A Minority Report....

That's just the title I could think of. Perhaps Tom Cruise's film [of the same title] was on my mind...

Oh well, what do you think of the counter report that the CNMI government is now scrambling to produce in order to provide a separate report on the veracity and credibility of the Federal Ombudsman's Office Report on the 20,000 migrant workers present in the islands?

Saipan Tribune reports:

"The Fitial administration has concerns about the data gathered by the Federal Labor Ombudsman, as well as the survey of only 10 Saipan Chamber of Commerce members to decide the fate of the CNMI economy, among other things.

“There are two main issues here-Interior's failure to meet the consultation requirement, and the credibility of data used to determine the future of the Commonwealth. One of the major tasks is to identify the potential impacts on the economy of these decisions...."

While the 20,000 legal aliens in the CNMI firmly clasp their hands in utter hope that they will finally be given permanent status in the CNMI or US citizenship, the rest of us can't help but think that this will be once again an uphill battle.

As the old adage goes appropriate for the islands, "Patience is indeed a vir-chew..."

PSA: Missing Person

A foreign national worker has allegedly been missing on Saipan. It's been five days since his disappearance. Family members of the missing person told his friends that even his car has been missing. They said the man went to Tinian for a project but was last seen on Saipan. Family said he was on a project somewhere around the island before he failed to come home.

The family members went to the police station after 48 hours of the man's disappearance. The guy's name according to sources is Alex Castro, in his mid-30's and a Filipino.

Could he be abducted? Into hiding? On this island? Why is the car missing too? Could he have fallen into a ravine? What type of manhunt or search has been done so far?

The family seeks the community's help on this.

Update:

Real name of the missing person is Alex Matubis, who works for Mr. Candido Castro. He was driving a pick up truck.

Aug. 8 - finaly this story made the papers today with photo.

Aug. 19 - Saipan Tribune

Missing man's car found in Marpi
By Kristi Eaton
Reporter

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division discovered and impounded a car Saturday that was owned by a currently missing Filipino man.

Alex Matubis' blue Toyota pickup truck with white doors was found near the Kalabera Caves in Marpi around 11:30am Saturday, officials said. Detectives searched the area after receiving tips from callers who spotted the vehicle.

Detectives got a tip about the car Friday. They were unable to locate the vehicle until Saturday. Detectives also conducted a search on the vehicle and a sweep around the area but were unable to find traces of the victim, according to officials.

Police impounded the vehicle. The case is currently under investigation.

Matubis, a drafter and cartographer, arrived on Saipan Monday, July 28, after conducting work on Tinian. According to investigators, a witness last saw him at 10:30am the same day when he was dropped off at his residence in Garapan.

Matubis, 47, was reported missing to DPS Thursday, July 30.

Anybody with information about Matubis is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 664-9042/9047.

Quick Note: 5x Off

I don't know if you notice at all, but in our area the power goes off at least five times a day. Wonder if that would reduce our next CUC bill....

PSS Politics or What (Sequel)

Saipan Tribune reports today that there are three applicants for the Public School System Commissioner position. Earlier we had a post on this, and yes, former PSS associate commissioner Rita Sablan is one of the three that has turned in her application. Again, Sablan competed with retired PSS Commissioner David M. Borja and lost by one vote during the BOE election two years ago. Sablan filed a lawsuit against the decision at that time.

Ambrose Bennett and Debra Ellen are the other applicants as of today.

Well, do we now know who will be the next PSS commissioner? Any idea?

Read on our earlier post regarding this issue.

Of CUC and Shutdowns...

Ming Palace shuts down, so they told us.

The ire of CUC bills have been plaguing establishments in the CNMI.

This renowned 24-hour diner griped about the utility bills that soared from $4,500 to over $9,000 just for one restaurant. The manager shared that the management has exhausted all cost-saving measures for the store. "I don't even know now which lights to turn off since most of them are," the manager said. The management said, it has been the worst the store has faced since its existence on Saipan. Then, the manager walked down the memory lane during the golden days of the CNMI. The management said it wouldn't want to raise the prices of the food in the restaurant because it knows that the people have lesser purchasing power nowadays.

Another establishment, a department store, will be downsizing and reducing its store area. The management has cleaned up the owner's backyard where the store will keep stocks et. al. The owner said the bill is just killing the business gradually. Thus, before it dies out, the management decided to reduce the store area and rent just one little space to make it work.

A little hotel used to pay $7,000 for CUC power. Then the management decided to use generator at night again to save from the grueling power bills. The AC's are on at night for the tenant's sleeping pleasure. Then in the morning they use CUC power. At first some pencil pushing saw the potential savings the hotel could reap from the measure, however, the little hotel's current power bill reached to a staggering $10,000 for last month's usage. The owner fainted in disbelief. The hotel had to pay the CUC bill plus the fuel for generators.

A small home or apartment tenant was happy to live in a building with generator. The owner of the building does not charge extra for generator. That should make the tenant happy. Last month usage reached 590 kwh for 31 days. The total bill due was around $160. Due to intermittent power outage, the tenant thought of saving a little because of the generator. New CUC bill came with less usage for the month which was 544 kwh. However, the tenant's bill was $210.

So much stories to tell out there...

So what's yours?

A Text for Recall?

Got this message today. I don't know with you, but I did get one.

It was a text message that said, "If u want to get the CNMI back on track, recall Fitial. Pass it on."

Would such rare "phenom" occur on this island? Would it work at all?

You tell me....

Quotable Quotes: Fitial on 2009 Election

(From Saipan Tribune)

“If the people still need me, I am here for them,” said Fitial in an interview with the media shortly after the completion of the Liberation Day Parade on Friday.

More story here....

Quotable Quotes: On CUC $5.1M Deal

(From Saipan Tribune)

Muna replied, “We made a mistake. We learned from our lesson, and we're not going to do it again.”

More story on this page.

Poll: Tax Me, Tax Me Not, Tax Me!

Tax me. Tax me not. Tax me.

I guess the Tinian mayor was plucking petals to decide whether his opinion would go for taxing guest workers' remittances to their home countries. According to Marianas Variety report that this suggestion was in lieu of an alternative means to save local and guest workers to be retrenched from companies.

So cast your votes now on our newest poll ------------->

The Reveler

Welcome Rally for Feds?

It's in the news today that a group of non-resident workers will hold a "Welcome Rally" for the visiting federal officers.

Why?

Read further here...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

PSS Politics or What?

In the Marianas Variety today, the report announced that Education Commissioner David M. Borja finally gave in and declared retirement from post due to ultimatum from the Board of Education.

Present...Lucy Blanco-Maratita now chairs the Board
Past....Roman C. Benavente chaired last school year
Present/Past...Herman T. Guerrero, still a board member, now BOE Vice-Chair
Present...Mary Lou Ada now a member of the board with Galvin Deleon Guerrero

Past...two of the board members then wanted former associate commissioner Rita Sablan to be the Commissioner and not Borja, however, Benavente and three other board members (Marja Lee Taitano and Dino Jones) voted "yes" for Borja.

During the election according to Saipan Tribune, Maratita expressed disappointment with the process. She and Guerrero voted for Sablan. Borja became the Commissioner. Rita Sablan filed law suit against PSS. Procedures were questioned so as Borja's education background. The law suit remains in the court.

Now, Benavente is out, Maratita is the BOE chair while Guerrero is the vice-chair. Borja suddenly was given the option to retire or else would be fired from post. Marianas Variety said the reason why the Board wanted Borja out was due to loss of confidence in him to run the PSS.

Principals wept. Farewell ceremonies were given to Borja.

Now, my question is, does this mean Sablan will be back to fill the post?

CGW Days are Numbered

Now that the CNMI's Labor and Immigration system will be under the Federal management, the buzz around the island is that the Labor Department has been very busy looking at the contract workers or foreign national workers' documents submitted to their office when they were hired to work in the CNMI from the beginning.

I've heard at least three cases where the Labor has deported recently one contract worker due to false documents submitted to the department when he was hired to work here years ago. One has a pending labor hearing case due to a fraudulent employment certificate submitted to the employer. The contract worker submitted his employment certificate from his/her country of origin that was actually non-existent. However, the employer went to the hearing and backed the contract worker for his/her competence at work, despite the major "glitch."

The Labor is deemed serious into verifying the documents submitted to them.

Now the question to the employers, if you found out that your best employee falsified documents, would you retain him/her?

Did Anyone Notice the Temporary Exit Notice?

Saipan Tribune has run two stories about this latest directive (well, not latest according to the Labor Department) about aliens with work permit would have to fill out a form available online from the DOL that would notify the department that they are temporary leaving the island. While the form does not ask for the destination, according to sources, DOL staff had told them that even if the aliens are going to Guam for a business visit or pleasure visit would still have to file for the notice.

Tribune has repeatedly told readers that it had asked about the date of implementation of this rule and the paper said that DOL had referred them to the PL 15-108 enactment. When was the PL 15-108 implemented? How come some people that had vacation last month that were not aware of the requirement thus failed to file the document were allowed back in the CNMI?

Some workers left for Guam today and called their offices that they had heard about the news just yesterday and got so worried about the news. Now the paper again is saying that one nurse was refused entry to the CNMI due to non-compliance.

However, the news is also right about how easy it would be to file the document.

What do you think?

Ben Again?

Is Fitial's decision to seek re-election good news?

Slurrrr Me A River

Here's another one for the community about the recent IMC incident on its sudden closure. Reports said that its owner spoke on TV about the incident and made such comments that the Philippine Consulate Office found offensive and branded as a "slur." The TV interview caught the Consul General's ears when he made such comments.

Ok. Now our highly reliable sources from the Filipino community called the Saipan Middle Road Headquarters that they are planning for a massive boycott on all Indian owned establishments here in the CNMI. How true is this? Still a plan. No confirmation yet from the group.

SUSUPE, Saipan - Philippine Consul General to the CNMI Wilfredo DL. Maximo urged a businessman on Saipan to be more cautious in his remarks in the future, following what he describes as irresponsible and sweeping statement on the character of all Filipinos on the basis of one employee in recent media interviews.

Island Medical Center owner Tony Glad, during an interview aired on KSPN-2 on March 14, expressed suspicion that his former Filipino accounts manager’s sudden departure from Saipan may have something to do with the forced closure of his clinic.

The Philippine consul general, however, has taken issue with Glad’s statement which the diplomat says is disparaging to Filipino workers in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

“I am writing to express concern over your remarks during an interview with KSPN on 14 March 2008, during which you were heard to say, in connection with the recent departure of the Filipino accountant of Island Medical Center, that 'It is typical of the Filipinos...when they have problems...they [dis]appear and leave for some reasons,'" Maximo said in his March 19 letter to Glad.

Copies of the letter were also given to the media.

On March 5, the CNMI Department of Public Health ordered Island Medical Center to shut down due to alleged noncompliance with rules and regulations.

The health agency cited Island Medical Center’s “unlawful pattern or practice by issuing health
certificates either without blood screening tests or on the basis of false, forged and/or altered lab test documentary results."

In interviews with the local media a few days after the forced closure, Glad expressed suspicion that his Filipino accounts manager, Romeo Dolot, may have something to do with the violations due to the employee's sudden departure from Saipan.

Dolot reportedly went back to the Philippines.

Maximo said Glad's remark was a slur on all Filipinos on the islands.

The Sweet Escape

Reading the news about the Island Medical Clinic and its plight made me realize I have several instances that I could share about an employee fleeing the "crime scene" in the CNMI. The certain employee Mr. Dolot immediately flew back to his home country, my guess would be the Philippines, just when the alleged scam was dug up by the Public Health. Its owner based on news said he was dubious when this employee bought a $15,000 car and wondered where he got the dough to purchase such expensive car for a non-resident worker.

This made me realize that I have known some non-resident workers that fled from the island for similar reasons. I know one employee of Century Hotel got away with alleged over $20,000 cash with him. The company didn't pursue but reported the case. I just found out another acquaintance that I used to bowl with also flew back home for the same reason. However, I heard he got more money from his company than the other.

Then I remember I was taking a friend to the airport and I saw someone I knew (close to a paper editor before) and she dashed from the cab with her backpack to the check in counter at the airport. I wondered why she was in a hurry. I wanted to say goodbye but a friend who was close to her said it was not a good idea. I didn't ask further why.

I found out that the woman left the island without consent from her employer. Again, why? I learned that the woman had to flee due to a case involving her colleague at work. I heard that her colleague stole covertly money from the company and she got afraid that she was going to be implicated with the case. Thus, she ran away.

Of course, the biggest case is the one that involved a MARPAC manager taking a huge sum of money.

What led them to such crime, obviously, financial difficulty. However, some just wanted to get a better car....

Saipan Tribune vs Marianas Variety

There you go. At least 55 readers voted in this poll. Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety's online edition tied with 43.6 percent of the votes. That means the voters would usually go online to read what's the latest in the CNMI. Residents from North and South Carolina, California and Massachusetts also cast their votes on this poll.

However, 36 percent of the readers grab the hard copy of Saipan Tribune more than the Marianas Variety (30 percent). Pacific Daily News got 1.8 percent votes both on its online and hard copy editions.

Pacific Times...nil...zilch...zero.

Thanks for voting!!!!

Oldest Hub to Shutdown?

Could it be true that the oldest diner here on the island is also in the brink of shutting down? I had the chance to chat with one of its staff and he told me that this diner unbelievably is thinking of closing the business due to the dwindling economy in the CNMI.

He said what used to be a popular night in the restaurant would mostly turn into almost like a ghost town. Yes. As in for a night no customer would show up to dine in. He said most of its avid customers have mostly left the island, hence, the turnout.

If this happens then it would be a sad note for its loyal diners.

CNMI Lowest Among Insular Areas

That is the title of the story run by Pacific Magazine, a Hawai'i based magazine, on today's headlines on both local newspapers. The articles reported that the CNMI had scored low in the recently concluded "Performeter" a study of the CNMI's financial health and performances initiated by the Office of the Insular Affairs.

Reports said that the CNMI's latest score is relatively consistent with that of prior years. "The Commonwealth scored 3.18 in 2002, when the Performeter study was first conducted by Crawford & Associates CPA. The score declined to 3.11 in 2003, and further plunged to 2.24 and 2.25 in 2004 and 2005," said the reports.

The report also mentioned that the CNMI has been relying more and more heavily on revenue it does not control, such as federal grants. "In FY2006, the CNMI had direct control over 68.4 percent of its revenues, down from 77.5 percent and 76.7 in 2004 and 2005."

So what could be the impact of this study to the CNMI and its relations to other US territories? What was the objective of the study?

Public Auditor said in the article that he is hoping that the local government would use the data constructively, instead of engaging in a blame game.

Miura Equates Border Control?

The recent turn of events that gathered a large number of Japanese journalists to the CNMI has been regarded by local officials an excellent indicator that the Northern Marianas has a reliable control of its borders.

The Japanese businessman Kazuyoshi Miura's allegedly plotted the murder of his wife back in 1981 made international sensation as Saipan has been mentioned several times in major news network in the US and in the world.

The government expressed that the weekend's event disproved criticism from Washington, D.C. that the local government has poor control over its border. Reports added that it is not difficult to control the local border, as the Commonwealth is an isolated chain of islands.

“Our ports of entry are clearly defined. We have only a few ways to get in and out-by ship or by air. There's no connecting landmass, obviously, since we're a remote island. We have a good border control system here and it is getting better and better,” the government spokesperson said.

Border control, along with national security and the CNMI's history of labor abuse, is among the major concerns commonly cited by supporters of federalizing local immigration. (ST)