DFS Saipan Limited became the latest title sponsor for the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance’s Green Gala, set for Sept. 14, 2018, at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

The funds raised at the gala will support the many programs that MINA conducts throughout the year, such as their outreach programs that educate children and the community about the importance of a healthy coral reef and the serious effects that littering has on the islands’ limited natural resources.

Marian Aldan-Pierce, division president of DFS Saipan Limited, stated that “DFS is proud to be a sponsor of MINA, the only organization we have, whose sole function is to protect our environment. As corporate citizens, it is our duty to support entities like MINA to ensure that future generations can enjoy our natural resources as we do today.”

Sean Frink, a board member for MINA, thanked DFS Saipan for their annual sponsorship of MINA’s fundraising efforts: “It is this recognition by DFS Saipan of MINA’s efforts to continue to spread the word out that our natural resources are all we have, and we need to do everything to protect them for those who will come after us. Our Tasi Watch rangers are out there every day, doing just that.”

Tickets for the Gala are on sale now, and going fast, so guests are encouraged to purchase theirs early. Call MINA at 233-7333 for more information. (MINA)

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Ralph DLG Torres

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres will deliver his second State of the Commonwealth Address today, Aug. 24, 2018, at 10am ChST at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. 

The 2018 State of the Commonwealth Address will air live on the CNMI Office of the Governor Facebook page and on the Northern Marianas College Facebook page. The event starts promptly at 10am Chamorro standard time.

A special enhanced live stream is provided through a collaboration between the Northern Marianas College, IT&E, and the CNMI Office of the Governor.

KKMP CNMI will also be airing the event live on 92.1 FM on the radio. (PR)

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A minority lawmaker believes the CNMI government should be cautious with its spending, citing possible cash flow problems with the young casino industry of the Commonwealth

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) said he met with Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero, legal counsel Michael Ernest, and some of their staff last June 5 to clarify certain issues concerning the casino-hotel of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC.

He told Saipan Tribune that the meeting did not delve into confidential matters. “I just had some questions for them. As elected officials, we represent the public. We have to speak to the people and be as transparent as possible.”

“If there’s privileged information that I can’t talk about, I won’t release it. It was just a meeting with the [CCC] executive director and their legal counsel.”

Among the subjects Propst asked the CCC about was IPI’s casino-hotel project being 10th out of 25,000 worldwide on international research provider RepRisk’s most controversial projects of 2017. He said the CCC failed to response to his query.

RepRisk is a Switzerland-based private company that specializes in environmental, social, and corporate governance, and business conduct risks. RepRisk’s head office is in Zurich.

Propst said it was a CCC staff who mentioned that IPI is having some problems with their cash flow. He, however, chose not to name the CCC staffer. “I was advised by [CCC] that taxing the casino [gaming] is not a good time because they have cash flow problems. [IPI] is having trouble collecting their debts and everything.”

“That’s very concerning when [CCC] told me that [IPI] is having difficulty. If something happens, we’re not prepared for it.”

Dependent on casino

Propst added that the signs should not be ignored and CNMI officials should be concerned about the way things are going on with IPI’s multi-million dollar project. “We see the fact that the [chief executive officer] left and one week later another member of the board of directors resigned.”

CEO Marco Teng resigned as IPI chair last week; a few days ago Cai Lingli stepped down as director of the company and chair of the executive committee. Cai is a relative of majority owner Cui Li Jie.

“These are telltale signs of a company in trouble. The fact that they weren’t able to pay their vendors is a huge concern. Because, if a company is profitable and doing well, they won’t have cash flow problems and they won’t have any problems paying their bills on time.”

“If we say and do nothing, and just continue to pretend everything is great, what if something happens down the road and we’re not prepared for it? Because of these signs, all the more reason why we should cancel the 80-percent salary increases and the big salary increases of the Cabinet. We must be very cautious on spending.”

Propst said that the CNMI has become dependent on the casino-hotel. “We must be careful with all the travel that’s going on, and the government purchasing new cars left and right. We became so dependent on the casino-hotel for paying all of our bills.

“If something happens, we’re not prepared. What we can do, to know what’s going on, is we should have an open and honest discussion. Do we look at other potential licenses to come in? Open up so there’s competitors?

“We’re the only place I know that allows only one casino. If we’re going to do the casino, let’s do it the right way. Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, and Las Vegas have competitors. Here on Saipan, we only have one.”

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Award-winning Teteto Beach and other unspoiled scenery await visitors for Bisita Luta (Visit Rota) on Oct.4-6, 2018. The event will feature a fiesta, fishing tournament, and other festivities and is organized by the Rota Mayor’s Office and sponsored by the Marianas Visitors Authority. (MVA)

Rota is gearing up to welcome visitors for three days of festivities during Bisita Luta on Oct. 4-6, 2018.

Bisita Luta, or “Visit Rota,” will feature a fiesta, a fishing derby and more on the island renowned among the Marianas for its untouched natural beauty and warm island hospitality.

“Bisita Luta is a series of festivities that my office and staff plan and prepare to get our people and tourists excited in preparation for our annual fiesta celebration of our patron saint, San Francisco de Borja. We are excited to welcome visitors from our neighboring islands and from afar to come to Rota and celebrate with us,” said Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig.

Most festivities will take place at Chamorro Village Park in Songsong. On Oct. 4, Thursday, there will be a night market and street dance competition at 6:30pm. Fisherman participating in the next day’s Bud Light Fishing Derby will have an orientation in the evening.

The Bud Light Fishing Derby will kick off the following day, Oct. 5, hosted by Ambros Inc. This program welcomes fisher men and women from Rota, Guam, and Saipan who continue to participate in an annual basis. That evening, Bisita Luta festivities include the Rota Wildlife Showcase, Bisita Luta Food Competition, and a Bisita Luta Concert that will feature bands from Guam and Saipan that will surely liven up the event grounds filled with dancing, great food, and lots of fun!

In honor of Songsong’s patron saint, the San Francisco de Borja Fiesta Mass will be held on Oct. 6, Saturday, at San Francisco de Borja Parish, followed by dinner and entertainment. The Bud Light Fishing Derby will conclude that day, with awards presented at the fiesta grounds.

“Bisita Luta is already well-known in Guam, Saipan, and Tinian as one of the best times of the year to visit Rota, and people usually return with mouthwatering tales of all the island delicacies they sampled there, not to mention Rota’s renowned island hospitality,” said Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “The MVA is pleased to support the Rota community in hosting this extraordinary annual event. We are especially pleased with the advanced planning being made, and we are sharing those details with our offshore offices to entice more international visitors to come and have a truly authentic cultural experience in Rota during Bisita Luta.”

The weekend event is being organized by the Rota Mayor’s Office with support from Rota Municipal Council, and Rota Legislative Delegation, in partnership with the San Francisco De Borja Fiesta Committee and Parish Council.

MVA members offering hotel and car rentals are Rota Resort & Country Club (1 (670) 532-1155), Valentino Hotel (1 (670) 532-8466), and Islander Car Rental (1 (670) 532-0901). Additional accommodations are provided by Coral Garden Hotel, Bay View Hotel, Sunrise Motel, and Bed & Breakfast.

For more information, contact special assistant for Programs and grants Aubry Hocog of the Rota Mayor’s Office at 1 (670) 532-9451 or aubryhocog@gmail.com or field operations supervisor Sandra Atalig of the MVA at 1 (670) 532-0327 or satalig@mymarianas.com. (MVA)

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Public Safety Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero attributes the reduction in the CNMI’s crime rate—as Gov. Ralph DLG Torres reported in his annual State of the Commonwealth Address last Friday—to law enforcement officers’ relentless anti-drug campaign.

Guerrero said a check with court cases would also show a reduction in the number of crimes in the Commonwealth.

“Officers are doing what they are doing supposed to do,” Guerrero said in an interview shortly after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres delivered his address at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

Torres said has said the crime rate is down by 65.3 percent compared to the numbers from 2013.

In five years, Torres said, domestic violence decreased by over 78 percent and property crimes are down by 58 percent.

The governor also noted that communicating to the public of the dangers of drunk driving has reduced the rates of driving under the influence of alcohol by nearly 80 percent this year.

Proud of his officers’ accomplishment, Guerrero noted that with the amount of drugs down, it has significantly reduced the crime rate.

“[As I’ve said two years ago], our Drug Task Force is going to go after drug users, drug dealers, and that’s what the Task Force did,” he said. “We got them[drug dealers] eventually, and that’s the outcome of it. Bottom line is, the drug task force is doing what they’re supposed to do, that’s why [we have] that outcome today.”

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SANTA RITA, Guam—The public is invited to the MWR Guam End of Summer Bash scheduled for Monday, Sept. 3, at U.S. Naval Base Guam – Polaris Point.

The gate at Polaris Point opens at 3pm and the event kicks off at 4pm.

A military ID or visitor pass is not required. However, all guests aged 18 and older are required to have a valid U.S. ID (i.e. Guam driver’s license or U.S. passport) to enter Polaris Point for the event.

There will be live entertainment by local dance group Talent Box and bands The John Dank Show, Pop, Rocks and Soda, Local Deluxe, and Fat Tofu. The event will also feature a static display of Navy equipment, rides for kids, and food and drink vendors. A 10-minute fireworks display will be launched at 8:45pm.(PR)

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Rosemond Santos

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied Amalia Abo Guanlao’s emergency motion to suspend a federal court order that granted U.S. Immigration and Customs officials’ request to dissolve the court’s previous order that stopped a judge’s removal order against her.

Ninth Circuit judges Barry G. Silverman and Milan D. Smith Jr. said the briefing schedule established previously remains in effect pertaining to Guanlao’s appeal.

The Ninth Circuit judges did not indicate the reason why they denied Guanlao’s emergency motion.

Guanlao, through counsel Rosemond Santos, filed the emergency motion to stay pending her appeal of the District Court’s Aug. 13 order.

In that Aug. 13 order, U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood also denied Guanlao’s motion to a stay of her deportation.

Guanlao is a Filipino mother of two minor U.S. citizen children who has been fighting an immigration court’s order of her removal since 2013.

In her ruling, Tydingco-Gatewood said that without a reason to maintain the stay originally imposed by U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, the ICE officials’ motion to dissolve the stay is granted.

The judge said Guanlao has not made any specific arguments regarding the public interest or harm to the opposing parties.

According to court records, on Sept. 10, 2013, an immigration judge found that Guanlao was removable as an alien, being without a valid immigrant visa or entry document, and ordered her removed to the Philippines.

Guanlao appealed the judge’s decision to the Board of Appeals. She lost her case before the immigration court.

In June 2016, she filed her petition in federal court for a writ of habeas corpus, seeking determination of “the legality of her continued detention and intended removal” and “a stay of her removal during the pendency of this case.”

Aside from naming then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson as respondent, Guanlao also sued several U.S. immigration officials.

Guanlao alleged a violation of her due process rights because her then-counsel Alice Rae failed to inform her of the ability to file a petition for review of the final removal order to the Ninth Circuit.

On June 23, 2016, Manglona entered a stay of removal “while the court hears the petition on the merits.”

In December 2017, respondents moved to dismiss Guanlao’s second amended petition and also requested that the court grant the respondents’ motion to dismiss.

Tydingco-Gatewood then dismissed Guanlao’s claims with prejudice. However, she did not explicitly address the stay of removal.

In light of the court’s dismissal of the claims,ICE officials requested an order explicitly dissolving the stay of removal entered in 2016.

Guanlao argued that she will suffer irreparable harm if a stay pending appeal is not issued because she and her entire family will need to relocate to the Philippines after spending 24 years on Saipan.

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The CNMI Lottery Commission will be calling a meeting in order to entertain the request for extension by Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC for their still-to-be finished casino-hotel project in Garapan.

Commission chair and Commerce Secretary Mark Rabauliman told Saipan Tribune that they had already received IPI’s 119-page Amendment Request Package.

“Now, I’m just trying to work with the rest of the commissioners to figure out their schedules and call a meeting to entertain their [IPI’s] request,” he added.

The meeting had to be before the Aug. 31, 2018 deadline of IPI’s Amendment No. 5. The package is IPI’s amendment request and proposed casino license agreement amendment No. 6.

“It [meeting] has to be before the deadline. We’re trying to all come together and finalize the actual date. Then we’ll be making the announcement,” added Rabauliman, who is joined by Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Robert Guerrero on the commission.

The Development Plan Advisory Committee, composed of Pacific Century Inc. and N15 Architects Inc., is recommending to the commission to grant IPI’s request for extension. PCI and N15 each represent the CNMI and IPI.

“IPI has notified DPAC that the construction of the initial gaming facility cannot be completed by the previously approved completion date primarily due to the unforeseen delays in immigration and labor law issuance, which caused a CNMI-wide worker shortage. IPI submitted an amendment request package to DPAC addressing the effects of these delays and how they have worked to overcome them,” DPAC wrote to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.

DPAC said N15 analyzed IPI’s amendment No. 6 package while also considering data from the CNMI, general contractor, and other members. “N15 takes the position that the IGF is being developed under fairly unique conditions primarily because of the geographical, political, and economic conditions of the CNMI, and therefore, local information is an invaluable resource in determining the validity of the request.”

DPAC said PCI and N15, after conducting separate independent high-impact analysis, find IPI’s request reasonable.

“The analysis provides compelling evidence that the CNMI will gain maximum financial receipts by amending the CLA to provide the development flexibility and time extension to complete the construction. PCI, utilizing its independent analysis, certifies that the extension request from IPI is justifiable,” wrote DPAC on the letter.

“In keeping with the spirit of the CLA, DPAC therefore recommends that the [commission] approve the proposed amendment to allow IPI to establish a sustainable gaming facility, further benefiting the people of the CNMI.”
 

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“This is a healthy thing that the people of the CNMI needs to hear [such as] what the progress of the CNMI is in the government. It was good. It outlined everything that was [achieved] throughout the term of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ administration. Overall, I would continue to serve the people as I was vested to.”
—Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Capt. Anthony I. Macaranas

“It was beautiful. I am very happy with it—very satisfied. It gives me more excitement. It is almost like a rally for all employees to continue to work hard and continue to make progress for our children, our future. It was a very good, beautiful, excellent speech and SOCA presentation on the governor’s achievements. I am very satisfied.”
—Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan)

“I felt more informed. It was informative and it was great. I hope that the off-island people that watch the SOCA are going to feel that there is something for them when they come back. I hope that they come back and contribute…because we need the younger generation because they are our future. [We need them] now more than ever.”
—Bruce Camacho

“With the SOCA, we know what was going on, what has changed, from the past to the present. Most of it was an improvement. No one expected Soudelor. I lost my house, had to rent houses. From there, we got help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, etc. Other than that, part of my dream came true—I became a police officer of two years. So many good improvements especially with drugs—it is out of the street [more]. We see more uniformed officers out that prevents crime for happening, deterrence.”
—DPS officer Maridel Camacho

“The clear message was progress. We are moving—we are moving as one CNMI, we are collaborating with each other: the governor, the Legislature, all of the key players are continuing toward progress. The SOCA was a good wake-up call that sends the message that we are still working for the community. I am looking forward to some of the proposals to continue.”
—Legislative assistant Joel Camacho

“I had an opportunity to thank the governor for his remarks and thank him for his invitation today and acknowledging the CBP and our role in helping international travel and as members of the public in the community at large. The theme I took away is it [SOCA] was a story about people: a walk through life, a journey on us. Who we are together as a people moving forward and, to me, that was quite inspirational. Pointing out the young people, pointing out the progress, just the general theme of us—us moving forward together as a community, as a people, and I really enjoyed that. That was quite refreshing.”
—U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey

“It is my first time ever to attend the SOCA by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. I found the address very informative. I am glad there were notable accomplishments in mind. I know that there is still room for improvement and I believe that we can get there if the governor is elected four more years. The accomplishments could not have been possible without our federal partners that provide us grants on an annual basis. It’s a hand-in-hand relationship with the local and federal government, and I hope that relationship continues moving forward.”
—Commonwealth Office on Transit Authority marketing specialist John Demapan

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“Over the weekend, we lost a great American. Sen. John Sidney McCain of Arizona passed away at home at the age of 81 after a yearlong battle with cancer.

A decorated Navy man who served our nation in Vietnam, McCain began his political career in Washington with a term in the House of Representatives followed by election to  the Senate in 1986, and for six terms established a reputation to standing for what he believed was what right for the country he served both as an enlisted serviceman and as a public servant who looked out for everyone who called themselves American, including those living in the territories. He was the embodiment of a true public servant and a role model for doing good work that transcends partisan politics.

“Lt. Gov. Hocog and I extend our families’ sympathies and the condolences of the Commonwealth to his wife Cindy, their family, as well as to the people of the State of Arizona as they mourn his passing.” (PR)

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Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Society for Human Resource Management, will be the keynote speaker of the CNMI SHRM general membership meeting this September.

Taylor will discuss partnering one’s workforce, corporate and government leaders to address unique HR challenges. He will discuss the value of creating and building partnerships with workforce, corporate and government leaders to address the unique challenges we face in the future of HR.

This will be a historic gathering for the CNMI human resources community as it will be the first time in two decades that the organization’s national president will visit the CNMI.

This meeting will be held at Pacific Island Club Saipan’s Charley’s Cabaret on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, beginning at 12pm. It is open to the public and will provide information for employers, managers, and HR professionals and staff.

The presentation includes the PIC lunch buffet at a cost of $20 for SHRM members and $30 for non-members.  

Seats are limited, so reserve your seat by contacting Penny Jones by e-mail at penelope.jones@hyatt.com or Denise Montenegro at denise.montenegro@hyatt.com or by telephone at 323-5867/68. 

SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. The NMI Chapter is affiliated with the national organization.  For more information about the NMI Chapter, you can visit their website at http://nmichapter.shrm.org. (SHRM)

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PaganWatch co-founder Cinta Kaipat said they are disappointed with the U.S. District Court’s ruling over the group’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of the Navy, they “respectfully” disagrees with it, and that they are looking at their options, including appealing the ruling.

“People of the Northern Islands will continue to oppose the relocation as it poses an existential threat to the residents of the Commonwealth,” Kaipat said.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona had ruled Wednesday last week that the Defense and the Navy did not violate the National Environmental Policy Act or the Administrative Procedure Act when they decided to relocate the U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam—as alleged by PaganWatch and three other environmental groups.

Kaipat said Friday that, at this point, they are considering an appeal. She said they let their lawyers make the decision whether to file a motion for reconsideration first before bringing the matter to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

“We just know that we are not going to just walk away,” said Kaipat, a former assistant attorney general and currently a Marianas Visitors Authority board member.

In her ruling, Manglona said she finds that the Defense and Navy’s decision to limit the training and range areas to those that met the needs of the Marines being relocated from Okinawa to Guam “was not arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion.”

“The decision was rationally and reasonably based on a consideration of the factors relevant to complying with the diplomatic agreement with Japan while meeting the immediate training needs of the Marines,” said Manglona in a 41-page decision and order that favored Defense and Navy.

The judge further finds that the actions decided on in the relocation final environmental impact statement and supplemental environmental impact statement for the relocation of Marines in Okinawa to Guam, and the range and training areas proposed in the CNMI Joint Military Training Environmental Impact Statement Draft EIS are not connected actions.

PaganWatch, the Tinian Women Association, Guardians of Gani, and the Center for Biological Diversity are suing Navy and Defense and their top officials for alleged violation of NEPA and APA over their decision to relocate 5,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and to conduct live-training on Tinian and Pagan.

The lawsuit involves a procedural challenge to the Defense and Navy’s decisions to relocate thousands of Marines from Okinawa to Guam and to construct training and base facilities on Guam and Tinian.

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Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, in his capacity yesterday as acting governor, directed that all American and CNMI flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of the life and service of Sen. John Sidney McCain III, who passed away on Aug. 25.

In a proclamation Hocog signed yesterday, it said, “As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Sen. John Sidney McCain III, President Donald J. Trump has hereby ordered that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the federal government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment. 

“The President has also directed that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. 

“By the authority vested in me as acting governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, I also direct that the flag of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be flown at half-staff during this time.” (PR)

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First Lt. Christopher Duenas, executive officer, Delta Company, Guam Army National Guard’s 1st-294th Infantry Regiment, earned the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in Gold recently upon graduation from the 22- week Maneuver Captains Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia. (GUAM NATIONAL GUARD)

A soldier from the Guam Army National Guard’s 1st-294th Infantry Regiment’s Delta Company is the first to be awarded the German Armed Forces Badge in Gold at Fort Benning, Georgia.

First Lt. Christopher Duenas, Delta Company executive officer, graduated from the Maneuver Captains’ Career Course on Aug. 14 at the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia.

The 22-week resident course takes place in a small group setting and includes curricula forces in all types of operations that a company commander may be forced to operate in, from combined arms maneuver to wide area security missions.

Duenas became the first Guam Guard soldier to be awarded the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in Gold for his very successful completion of the evaluation from the commanding officer upon recognition of his physical and moral standards.

The purpose of the evaluation is to show evidence that an individual is both physically and morally fit.

Duenas had to successfully pass six tests: (1) First Aid Course; (2) NBC test, which required demonstration of properly donning a protective mast and all NBC protective clothing; (3) basic fitness test completion in 90 minutes, which included an 11×10-meter sprint test, a flexed arm hand keeping chin above bar for time and a 1,000-meter sprint; (4) marksmanship skills using a German-manufactured light (pistol or MP), a rifle and one heavy weapon (MG or AT-launcher) at varying distances, targets and positions of firing; (5) a 12-kilometer foot march with a 33-pound rucksack and (6) completion of a 100-meter swim in uniform in less than four minutes.

Duenas completed the proficiency at the highest level, or Grade III, earning Gold.

The German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The decoration is awarded to and worn by German service members of all ranks.

Allied service members may also be awarded the badge, subject to their nations’ uniform regulations.

In the U.S. Army, the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency is one of several hundred foreign awards approved for wear on the uniform. (PR)

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The five businesses and 21 Chinese tourists who have filed a $50-million racketeering lawsuit in federal court against the owner and officials of XTRA Airways and several others now want to drop their complaint.

The plaintiffs, through lawyer Robert O’Connor, filed yesterday a notice of voluntary dismissal of their lawsuit before the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

O’Connor asked the court to dismiss the case without prejudice, which means the plaintiff may re-file the lawsuit in the future.

They accused XTRA Airways officials and others of allegedly engaging in a scam by pretending to participate in a plan to bring tourists from China to Saipan via charter aircraft, but deliberately sabotaged the plan by failing to take the steps necessary for it to succeed.

The five complaining businesses are Dream Pacific Aviation Services Hong Kong Ltd.; Evelyn U.S.A. Corp., owner of Impression Tour; Bright Investment LLC, owner of Saipan Restaurant; Rionda Co. Ltd., owner of New Shin Restaurant; and BW International, owner of BW Car Rental.

Eleven of the 21 Chinese are “stranded” tourists, while the rest are intending tourists who had booked and/or paid for flights on XTRA Airways charter flights from China to Saipan and back to China, according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs’ counsels are O’Connor and the Torres Brothers law firm.

The defendants are Frank J. Visconti, Nicolas Finazzo, and Andrew Lotter, who are all citizens and residents of Florida. They allegedly authorized and participated in the scam.

The defendants have denied the allegations.

Visconti was president and chief executive officer of XTRA Airways. Finazzo was a director of XTRA Airways and AerSale Inc. He was also chief executive officer of Aersale Inc. and a member of Aerline Holdings LLC. Lotter was chief operating officer and director of operations for XTRA Airways.

Also sued are TEM Enterprises Inc., AerSale Inc.; and AerLine Holdings LLC. The companies are all based in Coral Gables, Florida.

Sean Frink and Catherine J. Cachero of the Marianas Legal Strategy Group LLC serve as local counsels for the defendants’ lawyers, Matthew C. Dates and Andrea N. Nathan.

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The Guma Hustisia building in Susupe will not re-open this year and it is still not sure when it will re-open its doors to the public.

The building was closed to the public in March due to a severe mold infestation and air-conditioning problems. Since then, nothing much has been reported on the progress made to have the building re-opened.

A source said it in increasingly likely that the building will remain closed until the end of the year.

Based on the last news release, the Guma’ Hustisia just issued a request for qualifications last Aug. 1, seeking the services of a mechanical engineering consulting services that would help the CNMI Judiciary fix its mold and air-conditioning problem.

The requests for proposals are due at the end of August and only then will they have an estimated date to re-open the building. It remains unsure whether the building will open this year.

In the meantime, three transaction windows have been built on the side of the building’s main entrance.

The Judiciary’s accounting service unit/cashier, Commonwealth Recorder’s Office, Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, and Law Revision Commission will serve the public at these transaction windows.

Accounting Service Unit/cashier is at Window 1, while the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office and the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court are at Window 2. The Law Revision Commission is at Window 3.

The public will still be able to complete payments, process filings, obtain police clearances, and have access to other services at the walk-up transaction windows.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities with the assistance of the Marshals Service Division.

Court hearings are still being held at the U.S. District Court for the NMI in Garapan and at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, and the Northern Marianas College.

According to a previous article on Saipan Tribune, the 22-year-old main air-conditioning system at the Guma Hustisia was temporarily fixed more than a month before the building was closed down.

As the repair was only temporary, there is a huge possibility that the system may break at anytime.

According to a previous article, the Judiciary needs an estimated $7 million to replace the main air-conditioning system and for mold remediation. The article mentioned that the estimated budget is $4.4 million to replace the air-conditioning system and $2.6 million for mold remediation.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has since signed into law a bill that would allocate $7 million to the Judiciary for the procurement of a new air-conditioning system and for mold remediation.

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The Guam National Guard will commission another new officer during a ceremony today, Aug. 30, beginning at 3pm in building 350 at the Guard’s Readiness Center in Barrigada.

Officer candidate Laurence Mariano joined the Guam Army National Guard in 2007 as a financial services technician assigned to the Guam National Guard Element.

In 2009, he was selected to perform active duty operational support at the National Guard Bureau Financial Services Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was later selected for an active guard reserve tour at the National Guard Bureau headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. In October 2017, Mariano returned to Guam to pursue an opportunity to attend Officer Candidate School. He graduated from OCS on July 27 at Rapid City, South Dakota.

Mariano will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during a ceremony today, Aug. 30, at the Guard’s Readiness Center in Barrigada. Mariano will be branched infantry and assigned to Delta Company, 1st-294th Infantry Regiment as a platoon leader. (PR)

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From left, Daryll Keller and Leroy Kaminaga, students at the University of Guam; Dr. Mohammad Golabi, professor of soil science at UOG’s Western Pacific Tropical Research Center; Dr. Adrian Ares, interim associate director of the WPTRC; Christine Tominiko, a student from American Samoa Community College; Dr. Hauhouot Diambra-Odi, associate professor of animal science with UOG’s Cooperative Extension & Outreach unit; Inny Mareko, a student from American Samoa Community College; Florentino Bondoc, a student at UOG; and Daryl Richards, a student from the University of the Virgin Islands. (UNIVERSITY OF GUAM)

The University of Guam College of Natural & Applied Sciences hosted college students from other tropical islands this summer for the 2018 Caribbean and Pacific Consortium Summer Agriculture Experiential Program.

College students from American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam took part in the two-week internship from June 11 to 22 that provided career-enhancing opportunities in both agricultural and environmental sciences. 

“The program exposed me to relevant issues and topics that the people of Guam and other island nations are facing,” said Daryll Keller, an undergraduate student studying tropical agriculture at UOG who participated in the program. “The practicality of the program further helped me to better prepare myself in solving real-world problems.”

The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Resident Instruction Grant Program, which was obtained by Dr. Mari Marutani, professor of horticulture at UOG’s Western Pacific Tropical Research Center. It provides support to colleges and universities in insular areas for various aspects of agriculture, food and nutrition, watershed preservation, and environmental exploration.

Dr. Hauhouot Diambra-Odi, associate professor of animal science with UOG’s Cooperative Extension & Outreach unit, conducted the program at UOG, which included sessions on composting, poultry, plant extinction, sustainable agriculture, aquaponics, horticulture, irrigation, urban gardening, watersheds, and more.

Ferdinand Galsim, a research associate at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, presented to the students the only large-scale composting production in Guam. Students had the opportunity to observe the machine that turns the compost as well as other testing equipment used in making large-scale and quality compost.

“Guam is still facing challenges in agricultural sustainability and environmental concerns,” Galsim said. “I believe this program provides awareness and a great opportunity for students to share what they have learned with their communities and make a difference.”

Dr. Mohammad Golabi, professor of soil science at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, presented his real-time irrigation system project showing how to optimize irrigation scheduling for vegetable production across diverse climatic zones in the Pacific.

“The main objective is to improve water use efficiency for selected vegetable crops in these islands,” Golabi said. “By also implementing an outreach program targeting farmers and other agriculture professionals, it can enhance awareness in adopting an irrigation management strategy that conserves water resources while enhancing crop productivity.”

The students said the demonstrations provided valuable knowledge for their islands.

UOG undergraduate student Leroy Kaminaga said, “The smart irrigation could help farmers save tons of water. This was one of the many different techniques that demonstrated how to be eco-friendly and at the same time integrate new technologies in agriculture on tropical islands.”

According to Inny Mareko, a student from American Samoa Community College, Guam and American Samoa share similar agricultural practices and challenges.

“The time spent learning this new information has been amazing, and I would like to do it again in another country or island to expand my knowledge in the field of agriculture,” Mareko said. “I highly recommend this program to all students interested in agricultural science in an insular territory.”

Christine Tominiko, also from American Samoa Community College, said, “I got to experience a new environment and meet people of various backgrounds and ethnicities. Guam was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a student like me, and I am so glad that I was able to take part in this program.”

Florentino Bondoc, an undergraduate student at UOG, said, “Being a UOG student gives me a great pleasure in joining students from American Samoa and U.S. Virgin Islands. The program enhanced my awareness in every aspect of agriculture, including plants, animals, marine life, and the environment.”

The partner institutions in the CariPac Consortium benefit from each other’s knowledge and experience through virtual classroom capabilities, faculty development trainings, and community outreach programs.

Hosting the program again next year is dependent upon funding, Diambra-Odi said. Students interested in participating next year should stay tuned to announcements from the College of Natural & Applied Sciences and can also contact Dr. Mari Marutani, professor of horticulture at UOG’s Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, at 735-2131 or marutanim@triton.uog.edu. 

CariPac was established in 2005 to bring needed funds into agricultural and food science programs. The consortium includes institutions in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Guam. (UOG)

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The newly formed Physical Activity Council emphasized Tuesday the importance of physical activity during a presentation to the Rotary Club of Saipan by noting that a chunk of adults didn’t engage in any physical activity in over a month.

Council chair Samantha Birmingham-Babauta noted in her presentation that, according to the CNMI non-communicable diseases and risk factor hybrid survey report of 2016, 33 percent of adults self-reported not having participated in physical activity or exercise during the past month.

Babauta said the council wants to increase participation in exercise from 67 percent to 77 percent by 2021.

The council hopes to achieve this through two ways: Using a logo that will market physical activity as a fun event and creating an internship program for high school or middle school students that will teach students to lead elementary school kids in physical activities.

“Engaging in physical activity, especially if you [live] a sedentary lifestyle has…benefits [such as] lowering your blood pressure; cholesterol levels; reducing body fat percentages all while increasing lean muscle mass,” Birmingham-Babauta noted. “We have high obesity rates in the islands and we have high rates of type II diabetes, which is…linked to poor diet and the lack of exercise.”

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David O. Carter

U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David O. Carter advised yesterday the parties in a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by a former biologist of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ Division of Fish and Wildlife to consider a settlement conference.

Carter heard the motions filed by the defendants that Dr. Anne M. Orlando named in her lawsuit. Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona had recused from the case.

Carter then placed the matter under advisement and stated that a written order would follow.

Orlando is suing DLNR and DFW officials for allegedly discriminating against her due to her pregnancy.

Robert Pickett argued in support of DLNR and DFW defendants. Rene Holmes represented Orlando.

Holmes insist that Orlando exhausted her administrative remedies and that the federal court should deny a motion to dismiss her complaint.

Holmes said there is also no lack of jurisdiction.

Holmes said the court should also deny defendants’ motion alleging misjoinder of parties in the lawsuit as DFW and the official-capacity defendants are proper parties.

DFW hired Orlando on Feb. 9, 2015, as a wildlife biologist supervisor. DPW renewed her contract for Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017, according to court documents.

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