UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LIBRARY arianas %riety:~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 . ~f\VS 'Proceed cautiously on power plant project' By Haidee V. Eugenio entails and the length of time Directors anytime this week or panded study by its independent Variety News Staff needed to finish it. next week to have a detailed dis­ consultants-Burns & TIIECHAIRofthe House Com­ "We don't want them to start cussion on the current status of McDonnel-to evaluate the cur­ mittee on Public Utilities Trans­ the project and then find out later the planned 80 megawatt power rent and future power supply needs portation yesterday told the Com­ on they cannot pay for all the plant. on Saipan, and the economic fea­ monwealth Utilities Corp. to be expenses. We want CUC to be CUC legal counsel William J. sibility of the 80 megawatt power "careful" with the controversial cautious on this. We want to sit Ohle, in a separate interview, said plant project in light of the current $120 million Saipan power plant down with the board to know the the board is willing to meet with CNMI economic conditions. project. status of the project, to know Apatang anytime to infonn him "We would be happy tositdown Rep. David Apatang (R-Saipan) what's going on," Apatang said of the steps taken by the board with him for that matter," said said CUC needs to ensure it will in an interview. regarding the project. Ohle. be able to sustain the project, con­ The legislator said he would be During its recent meeting, the The draft results of the new sidering the amount of funding it meeting with the CUC Board of board officially approved an ex- Continued on page 26 Rep. David Apatang 'Thairrific' Federal Court denies request to rehire workers ! By Ferdie de la Torre , I Variety News Staff 'i !) THE U.S. District Court has de­ !j nied the National Labor Rela­ ·q!! tions Board's efforts to compel 'I Dai-Ichi Hotel to rehire some of its tenninated nonresident work­ ers. Federal Court Judge Alex R. Munson, however, granted NLRB's request to reinstate ' Loreta Rangamar, a local 'I worker, to her former position. Judge Alex R. Munson 1 Munson said that with respect to the alleged discriminatory along that the Dai-Ichi did not nonrenewal of the 35 nonresi­ target union supporters fof dis­ dent workers and the construc­ criminatory treatment, and that tive discharge of one alien the only reason that nonresi­ worker, the court finds that dents did not have their· con­ NLRB is not likely to prevail on tracts renewed was either be­ its claims. cause of the economy or the I\ Douglas W. Hall, one of Dai­ requirements of CNMI law. It is ichi Hotel 'scounsels, stated that gratifying that both Judge A Thai lady dressed in traditional costume showcases Thai products as well as photos of her country during the Thai Festival. Photo by Marian A. Maraya they are extremely pleased with Munson and the Administrative the court's ruling. Law Judge agree with us," said "We have been saying all Continued on page 26 New FCC rule Car crash kills Navy man r,.,,,:,:;==================:1 By Jay Pascua Highway Patrol Officers said In tourism to require Variety News Staff the Navy man was driving a 1997 HAGATNA-An early morning Toyota Tercel west toward Route Governor calls for more telecom firms car crash yesterday claimed the two. The road was wet at the time 1 life of a 20-year-old Navy man. and apparently the man lost con­ Ii private sector participation Police said the crash took place trol of the car and ran off the :i to open lines By Jojo Dass nity)tojoin(MVA)sothatthere at around 6: 30 a. m. along Route 5 roadway. The Tercel hit a con­ i'I Variety News Staff will be more participation from By Haidee V. Eugenio 1 in Apra Heights. crete utility pole. · GOVERNORPedroP. Tenorio theprivatesector;·saidTenorio. · Variety News Staff Traffic investigators said speed The damage to the car was ex­ CNMI consumers will soon yesterday called forstrongerpri- There currently are efforts to was a factor in the fatal crash and tensive enough to have the Guam vate sector participation in ef- organize the Marianas Tourism see local internet access and Fire Department use the jaws-of­ will continue to investigate forts to give the Northern Council (MTC) which will other data services having in­ life to remove the four victims whether other factors played a Marianas a needed facelift to mainly come up with plans to creased availability, lowered 'I role. Continued on page 26 further boost tourist arrivals. maintain the islands as prime cost and higher capabilities as "My understanding is that the destinations for tourists. the Federal Communications . Marianas Visitors Authority According to MV A Board Commission (FCC) adopted (MV A) only have 70 member- Chair David Sablan, MTC will last week rules to. promote ship whereas in the past, there also be tasked to .. clean the en- competition for advanced ser­ were so many organizations tire island so that we can re- I vices. wanting to be members," the ceive our guests properly:· Called the "Advanced Ser­ governor told reporters. It will be recalled that the vices Third Report and Or­ Tenorio said MV A should Chair of the House Committee r der," FCC directs local tele­ likewise exert more efforts to on Commerce and Tourism has t phone companies to share their attract local businesses, adding revealed that efforts are under- telephone lines with providers t that there are still other groups way to give the Northern [ of high-speed internet access that can also be tapped to boost Marianas a badly-needed , and other data services. 1 Bob Webb, the CNMI membership. facelift to attract more tourists.I .. I encourage them (members Rep. Oscar M. Babauta (R- , governor's special assistant for The Toyota Tercel that crashed into a utility pole on Guam. of the local busi~e~s :~"'~==~~tinued 2-6 ; Continued on page 26 Photo by Eduardo C. Siguenza o~.e!~~ 1 PAC NE:V'l~TAPER srr.c1<s LOCAL 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-TUESDAY- NOVEMBER 23, 1999 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1999-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 .. News Briefs FCC rules on Okinawa mayor to urge India, Pakistan call Planned lawsuit vs feds gets support halt to border firip.g line-sharing By Jojo Dass an experience on the kind of efforts are being undertaken to By Haldee V. Eugenio ISLAMABAD (Reuters) . Commanders of the border forces of Variety News Staff litigation to be involved has have all government agencies Variety News Staff India and Pakistan agreed Sunday to immediately stop firing a<;ross I'1 GOVERNORPedroP. Tenorio expressed interest on the case. concerned - local and federal relocation of US base ', CNMI consumers will soon see their common border but the rare peace move between the two m>als yesterday said he supports ef­ "I agree that we cannot just - get their acts together and local internet access and other TOKYO (Reuters) - The gover­ U.S. facilities occupying more than Residents ofNago in 1997 voted appeared to exclude Kashmir. forts by Tanapag residents to continue to wait and continue address the mounting concerns data services having increased 20 percent of Okinawa's land. overwhelming! y against a proposal The decision was taken after a four-day meeting m the Pakistam seek legal representation on a to (see) the health of the com­ nor of Japan's southernmost pre­ brought about by the contami­ availability, lowered cost an"d fecture of Okinawa is likely to un­ The two countries struck the his­ for a floating heliport off its coast, city of Lahore between the commanders of the Pakistani Rangers and planned class action suit munity deteriorate. We have nation. higher capabilities as the Fed­ veil a plan on Monday to relocate toric pact to defuse local resent­ after environmentalists and local the Indian Border Security Force, the state media said. against federal government to do something," the gover­ "We are trying to do our eral Communications Commis­ part of a U.S. military base to the ment toward the heavy concentra­ fishing cooperatives in Nago op­ "The meeting decided to stop firing immediately on the borders to agencies over the contamina­ nor told reporters in an inter­ best," said the governor, "so sion (FCC) adopted last week citythatwill hostnextyear'sGroup tion of America's military pres­ posed the idea out of concern over avoid killings of innocent citizens on both sides," the radio said tion caused by toxic chemical view. do that all these agencies can rules to promote competition of Eight summit, a local govern­ ence in Okinawa. That resentment damage to fishing grounds, coral without elaborating. waste-including the cancer­ Jones on Sunday lamented work together." for advanced services. ment official said. was fanned by the rape of a Japa­ and the habitatfornumerous aquatic causing polychlorinated biphe­ that not much action has been "So that they can immedi­ Called the "Advanced Ser­ Okinawa Governor Keiichi nese school girl in 1995 by three · species. Elizabeth II to make nyl-abandoned by the U.S. done by the U.S. Army Corps of ately try to resolve the prob­ vices Third Report and Order," Inamine is expected to tell a news U.S. servicemen. Groups in Nago opposed to the military. Engineers, the lead agency on Pedro P. Tenorio lem." 1st visit to Ireland FCC directs local telephone The centerpiece of the 1996 deal U.S. bases also staged a rally in Tenorio's inove came fol­ clean-up activities, since he Aside from the Corps, other conference that helicopter facili­ companies to share their tele­ August, demanding that the Japa­ DUBLIN (Reuters)- Britain's Queen Elizabeth is expected to make lowing an announcement made raised the issue to its officials ties at a U.S.