Boy band Ulala Session of South Korea will perform at the #MyMarianas Paradise Festival on April 13, 2019, on Saipan. (MVA Photos)

The #MyMarianas Paradise Festival concert on April 13, 2019, on Saipan will feature celebrity performers from several Asia countries.

Dancer Kenichi Ebina of Japan captured the winning title in Season 8 of America’s Got Talent with his performance technique.

Ulala Session, composed of members Seung-il Kim, Myung-hoon Kim, Do-won Choe, and Jun-seok Ha, rose to fame as winner of the 2011 competition “Superstar K 3” on Mnet, the South Korean pay television music channel. The group also performed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games K-pop Concert. Huk Gak took the championship title of “Superstar K 2” in 2010.

Singer Yixin Wang of China will also perform.

“It’s going to be a star-studded event this week in the Marianas, and we are looking forward to welcoming these guests and their fans to Saipan,” said Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “We are looking forward to presenting a spectacular—and best of all, free—concert for the community.”

The #MyMarianas Paradise Festival concert will be held from 5pm to 9pm at Civic Center in Susupe, in conjunction with the 38th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival.

The Flame Tree Arts Festival is Micronesia’s longest-running arts and culture festival and will feature live performances, artwork and crafts, food sales, and more. From traditional to contemporary, various art forms will demonstrated and celebrated, including performing arts, visual arts, handicrafts, culinary arts, and more. In addition to a large main stage, his year’s festival will also feature a second, acoustic stage with more performances.

The event is also supported by the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“On behalf of our members, HANMI is very pleased to collaborate with the MVA and the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs in make this mega-event available for our visitors and our community members,” said HANMI chair Gloria Cavanagh. “Our goal is to ensure the message gets out through as many media outlets as possible that the Marianas is welcoming, beautiful, and a wonderful paradise for everyone.”

Visitors to the festival may use the T Galleria courtesy shuttle bus and disembark at Saipan World Resort, immediately adjacent to the festival grounds. The shuttle stops at T Galleria in Garapan, as well as major hotels.

The MVA is also arranging for media from South Korea, China, and Japan to cover the concert, the Flame Tree Arts Festival, and other attractions during the week.

Additional sponsors for the concert include Hard Rock Café Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, and Kensington Hotel Saipan.

Flame Tree Arts Festival sponsors this year are Bridge Capital, T Galleria by DFS, Bank of Guam, IT&E, Marpac, 4ever CNMI, and Tan Siu Lin Foundation.

For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarians.com. (MVA)

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A former CNMI resident won an award at the Utah Film Festival for her role in a film shot in only six months.

Yvonne DLG Bennett last weekend was awarded the 2019 Utah Film Festival award for best supporting actress on the film Stalker directed by Devin K. Hansen. The film was nominated in eight categories: feature director, lead actress, supporting actor, ensemble cast, feature, budget under $5,000, and best supporting actress, which Bennett bagged.

The film also won the film festival’s budget under $5,000 award.

“I want to thank Devin K. Hansen first because I said yes to his project first and he is one of the most passionate filmmakers I know,” she said in her acceptance speech. “…It was so fun to work with everybody and it was an amazing six months for us filming this project.”

Bennett recalled her days of living on Saipan.

“This is more than an award. I am just a girl who grew up on an island with 50,000 people. I was just so stubborn [and asserted] that I wanted to act and I am still doing it and would continue doing it,” she said.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the females back home in the CNMI because if a girl like me from an island can come and pursue my dreams, so can you,” she said.

In a separate social media post, Bennett also dedicated the award to the special females in her life: her mother, Lillian Bennett, her twin sister Yvette DLG Bennett, and sister Shequita Curby.

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Despite no specific dollar amount yet, proceeds from the Rotary Club of Saipan’s fundraiser last Tuesday, the Las Vegas Nights, are being described as “looking good.

Rotary Club of Saipan vice president Brian Clayton said the Las Vegas Nights’ proceeds were at about the $27,000 mark but no solid figures are ready at this time.

Clayton noted that only one person is handling all the proceeds of their annual fundraiser, so the final numbers were not yet available as of publication.

“We have a rough idea. It’s about $27,000 at this point but we don’t know [for sure]. …The final numbers have not been tallied yet,” he said, adding that the $27,000 is a mere estimate.

“The Las Vegas Night was a success[and] we got a great turnout,” Clayton said. “We should know [how much was raised] in the next weeks.”

He expects it to take about two weeks before the final proceeds are announced.

Club president-elect Marcia Ayuyu thanked the sponsors who donated or assisted the Rotary Club of Saipan for the event.

The sponsors and donors are DFS T Galleria, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, Triple J Motors, Marianas Printing, Marpac, Joeten Enterprise, Yaong Corp., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, National Office Supply, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IT&E, Blossoms Floral Shop, J’s Restaurant, McDonald’s Saipan, Century Tours, Let’s Go Marianas, Seatouch, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Megabyte Saipan, Bubba Gump, Tony Roma’s, Kanoa Resort, and D&Q International Distributor.

The club is also grateful to the volunteers who manned the table games. He noted during last Tuesday’s club meeting that they would be coming up “with something” to honor the volunteers.

“…At this point, we are still trying to figure out how much we’ll have to pay for different prizes…and collecting all the tickets. Once we have all that finalized…then we get the final numbers to see exactly how successful the event was,” he said.

The club gave away several door prizes, along with grand prizes totaling $16,500 in cash.

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The Commonwealth Ports Authority is exploring the idea of leasing its property adjacent to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport for non-aeronautical activities to earn more money.

According to a CPA document called “Strategic Planning for CNMI Air and Seaports,” its existing leases—both aviation/harbor and non-aviation/non-harbor—enable CPA to earn a substantial amount.

CPA’s plan is to examine various land leases that are outside of the aeronautical/harbor classification.

CPA said the Department of Public Lands’ land use plan and the CPA’s master plans are nearing completion, which will assist CPA in determining the different types of potential leases.

CPA’s intent is to align its development plan with that of the CNMI government.

CPA is also exploring the possibility of charging fees for the use of baggage carts as another potential revenue source.

CPA noted that many airports worldwide have implemented a fee for the use of baggage carts.

CPA, however, conceded that given the airport’s current footprint, it is still undetermined if this venture would be profitable.

Passengers use baggage carts for a distance of only a few feet.

Another idea is establishing a food and beverage kiosk after or in the arrival area. All food and beverage stations are right now located in the departure areas.

Another idea is establishing booths for tour companies as most arriving passengers are associated with a tour agent/company.

CPA executive director Christopher S. Tenorio said the Strategic Planning outlines what the staff and management have identified as priorities that CPA will pursue in the next four years.

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State Coordinator for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Floyd Masga, left, and Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony Benavente flank Keena C. Leon Guerrero. (Contributed Photo)

Keena C. Leon Guerrero has been selected as the 2019-2020 U.S. Pacific Territories Capacity Building Program scholarship recipient.

The CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources, in partnership with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced Leon Guerrero’s selection yesterday.

Leon Guerrero was a recipient of the scholarship program during her undergraduate studies and has served as a fishery biologist under the CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife and is currently the Fisheries Data Section supervisor.

Leon Guerrero reportedly plans to continue her graduate studies in the summer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

According to Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony T. Benavente, two previous scholarship recipients, Francisco C. Villagomez of the University of Guam and Carey Demapan of Hawaii Pacific University, have returned to serve DLNR’s fisheries programs.

“Fisheries education and community outreach is critical for our U.S. territories and island states. This program provides unique and rigorous educational programs and opportunities in marine science and fisheries and has allowed our local programs to grow. We are very grateful for this program and the opportunity to collaborate with universities throughout the Pacific and we’re confident this program will build more interest in protecting and cultivating our natural resources,” Benavente said.

In a letter, WPRFMC executive director Kitty M. Simonds commended Leon Guerrero for her continued interest in managing fisheries and related marine ecosystems.

Based on the availability of funds, the scholarship will cover tuition, room and board, books and supplies, fees, and personal expenses.

As a scholarship recipient, Leon Guerrero will be required to work under the CNMI DFW for one year for each year the scholarship is received.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said the U.S. Pacific Territories Capacity Building Program has given opportunities to U.S. citizens and nationals of American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI and Hawaii.

“This program has definitely bridged the gap for our CNMI scholars so that they can return to join our workforce. It has been a constant priority of this administration to cultivate the current and next generation’s interest in coming back to serve our islands, build our economy, and protect our environment. I sincerely thank WESPAC for their support and diligence in giving students the opportunity to sustain our local practices and our fisheries,” Torres said.

Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios added that this program started as a simple agreement between several local and federal agencies to recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional fishing practices in managing fishery resources.

“This program has come a long way to benefit local residents and agencies….I encourage other students who are passionate about marine resources to take advantage of this opportunity,” Palacios said.

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In this file photo, Benellen Camacho, center, poses with her father, Vicente Camacho, and members of the CNMI Board of Education, soon after graduating from Kagman High School in 2016. (Erwin Encinares)

A former CNMI resident was inducted into the Circle of Honors at the Washington State University.

Benellen Camacho was inducted into the university’s 2nd Annual Circle of Scholars last April 11, 2019.

Camacho was also the 2016 Kagman High School valedictorian and is currently studying psychology and human development at WSU. Camacho, according to her sister, Kianna C. Manglona, is expected to graduate in 2020.

Camacho also spent a year at the Northern Marianas College before heading to the state university.

“It feels amazing…to be recognized by such accomplished people and amazing to be part of something as commendable as this. I always felt like I worked hard but this tells me that I really did,” Camacho said.

She plans to look into pursuing her studies further once she finishes her undergraduate degree.

“The campus is actually opening up a master’s program in psychology the fall after I graduate so that’s something I’m interested in,” Camacho said. “Mental health is highly stigmatized back home in the CNMI and I want to create a way for people to receive proper treatment without feeling ashamed about it.”

“I am proud of a lot of things and I am proud of a lot of people in this world, but nothing makes me prouder than to see my baby sister making her dream a reality,” Manglona said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Manglona is currently with the Office of the Governor on Capital Hill.

“I truly believe she’ll be back home, helping our people as best she can. Until then, I’d like for her to know that her community is just as proud of her and every student who leaves home to further their education in hopes of coming back to the CNMI,” Manglona added.

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Young ladies of the CNMI are being encouraged to be a part of the 2019 CNMI Liberation Day Royal Court, one of the signature events of the annual Liberation Festivities.

“We have exciting activities lined up for our Liberation Festivities in July. Being a part of the Royal Court will truly give each young lady an opportunity to be bold and to play an active role within our great community through events and fundraising,” said Royal Court Committee chair Bridget Maratita.

Applications are now available at the Saipan Mayor’s Office in San Jose. You can also email nmiliberation@gmail.com for more information.

Applications are due on Monday, April 22, 2019 and can be turned into the Saipan Mayor’s Office or the email mentioned above.

Community volunteerism will be the guiding principle in organizing the 2019 CNMI Liberation Day Royal Court and other main activities.

Applicants must be young females from the ages of 14 to 22 years old with good academic standing and moral ethical character. Applicants are encouraged to join and boost their portfolio as an active community volunteer.

Each candidate will have the ability to sell Liberation Day raffle tickets to raise funds and host other various approved fundraisers. (PR)

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From left, Paulo Sorriano, graphic artist; Arnold Ondra, printmaker; Daniel Soliman, graphic artist; Jashlie Reyes, graphic artist; Bernard Lambat, press operator; Tomasa C. Camacho, treasurer; Luis T. Camacho, Marianas Printing president; Delia Marfil, accountant; Ty Pauling, Hyatt Regency Saipan director of Food & Beverage; Danny Son, Hyatt Regency Saipan director of Sales & Marketing; Angel Mendoza, Hyatt Regency Saipan graphic artist; Rosebeth Gregorio, Marianas Printing sales manager; and Zenn Tomokane, Hyatt Regency Saipan executive sous chef. (Contributed Photo)

Marianas Printing supports Hyatt Regency Saipan 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic this year as a platinum sponsor.

Marianas Printing will donate this year’s banquet invitations and tournament brochures featuring event sponsors, holes, and prizes.

The donation from Marianas Printing will aid this year’s beneficiaries: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Guam and CNMI, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas.

“As a locally owned company, we are proud of our hard work, community contributions and partnership with Hyatt Regency Saipan. We are happy to maintain our island business throughout the highs and lows of the economy, and we welcome the opportunity to support the golf classic and its mission to help our community,” said Marianas Printing owner and president Luis T. Camacho.

Hyatt assistant marketing communications manager Claudine Camacho said: “I am grateful for Marianas Printing’s continued community dedication and support with this year’s Charity Golf Classic. It is a great pleasure working with a wonderful team that delivers personalized service not only with Hyatt but local service to the people of the CNMI,”

Marianas Printing started in 1976. (PR)

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The Office of the Public Defender, on behalf of a defendant facing murder charges, is questioning the Superior Court’s act requiring the OPD to provide a Tagalog interpreter.

Assistant public defender Heather M. Zona, counsel for Alfonso Parongan, asserted that assigning OPD the task of finding interpreters violates both Commonwealth law and Parongan’s constitutional and civil rights.

Assigning this task to OPD violates the separation of powers doctrine, said Zona in Parongan’s motion filed Wednesday for the Superior Court to provide and pay for a Tagalog interpreter.

Parongan’s trial will start next month.

Zona said Parongan requires the use of a Tagalog interpreter for court proceedings, including trial, as well as meetings where Parongan is required or expected to attend.

OPD had asked the court to appoint a Tagalog interpreter so that, among other things, Parongan may participate in his own defense and know what is going on in his case.

Instead, the Superior Court instructed OPD to “contact the interpreter.”

Heather M. Zona

Zona said that when OPD first asked the Superior Court for its list of court interpreters, a court staff advised that it could not provide the list because the information is “confidential.”

And because the court does not wish to provide the list of qualified translators to OPD, the court has placed on OPD the task of identifying and providing interpreters, which is outside the agency’s mandate, Zona said.

She said OPD lacks the resources and ability to determine whether particular individuals are qualified interpreters, or to compel such individuals to appear for court dates or meetings.

“Such responsibilities already have been assumed by the Superior Court pursuant to its obligations under Title VI, among other laws,” the defense counsel said.

She pointed out that Commonwealth Rules of Practice require the court to provide and pay for an interpreter for Parongan. “Criminal defendants with limited English proficiency have a constitutional right to interpretation,” she said.

Zona noted that the court created a list of court interpreters, which was last updated on Jan. 3, 2015.

“Over the past four years, the list has become outdated as individuals have moved off island, passed away, or only will translate for federal cases,” she said.

Zona said agencies receiving federal funding are required to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to programs, services and information to LEP and Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

Zona cited that in 2018, the NMI Judiciary received $906,929 grant from a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant.

She said between 2003 and 2018, the NMI received other grants from BJA in the amount of $9 million, some or all of which reflects grants to the Judiciary.

Zona said that in 2015, the Judiciary received a $54,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consisting of a $34,000 for the purchase and retrofit of a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the Marshal Service Division and $20,000 to purchase a computer, workstations, and database server for the clerk of court’s office.

Parongan is being charged over the killing of his landlord and injuring her husband in Chalan Kanoa in 2017. He faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Parongan, 56, has been in jail since he was arrested shortly after the killing that occurred in October 2017.

Through his counsel, Parongan has made a plea of not guilty for reason of insanity.

Police said during their interview, Parongan confessed to smoking drugs and being drunk on the day of the incident.

The woman suffered multiple stab wounds, while her husband sustained 12 injuries in different parts of the head and body.

The woman was reportedly trying to collect house rental from Parongan when the two got into argument in the evening of Oct. 29, 2017. He allegedly stabbed the woman and her husband with a kitchen knife.

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From left, Matt Deets, Joeten Motors general manager; Jack Deleon Guerrero, Hyatt Regency Saipan front office manager; Angel Mendoza, Hyatt Regency Saipan graphic artist; Peter Tenorio, Joeten Motors operations manager; Ray “Boss” Alvarez, Joeten Motors sales manager; Ty Pauling, Hyatt Regency Saipan Food & Beverage director; and Yasmin Miles, Joeten Motors sales consultant. (Contributed Photo)

Joeten Motors is offering a 2019 Honda HR-V Sport prize valued at $27,995 as a shiny hole-in-one prize at the Hyatt Regency Saipan 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic, which takes place this year on April 27, 2019.

The donation from Joeten Motors will aid this year’s beneficiaries: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Guam and CNMI, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

500 Sails promotes traditional Chamorro and Carolinian proa (canoe) construction and sailing.

NMI Rollers Basketball Association promotes the sport of basketball among the youth.

Isla Montessori School strives to blur the boundaries between the island community and institutional schooling.

4H Marianas promotes agriculture in the Commonwealth.

Matt Deets, general manager of Joeten Motors, said: “Joeten Motors has supported the Hyatt tournament for many years and we are pleased to sponsor it again this year. Good luck to all the players…and thank you to the organizers for what we expect to be another great event”

“Hyatt Regency Saipan is proud to partner with companies like Joeten Motors for the past 23 years in positively impacting our community. The generosity of their donation will continue to provide value to our golfers and help us reach our goal of impacting our five local beneficiaries,” said Ty Pauling, Hyatt Regency Saipan Food & Beverage director.

Aside from holding the Nissan franchise, Joeten Motors also offers automobile brands such as Honda, Ford, and Kia, in exclusive U.S. specifications.

In addition to vehicle sales, parts, and service, Joeten Motors also provides products like Ziebart Rust Proof Undercoating, window tinting, car care detailing, Axalta and Nason Automotive Paints and Additives, Bridgestone, Nankang, Nexen Tires and a variety of 3M products. Joeten Motors also carries a wide range of Yamaha Marine and Honda power products lines. It holds the NAPA Auto Parts franchise and the franchise of Quicklane Tire and Auto Center. (PR)

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From left, Ty Pauling, Hyatt Regency Saipan F&B director; Angel Mendoza, Hyatt Regency Saipan graphic artist; Bob Webb, KZMI 103.9 Radio general manager; Danny Son, Hyatt Regency Saipan sales & marketing director; and Zenn Tomokane, Hyatt Regency Saipan executive sous chef. (Contributed Photo)

Hyatt Regency Saipan 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic has received a radio coverage donation from 103.9 KZMI-FM.

With the media coverage sponsorship from 103.9 KZMI-FM Radio, station manager and radio personality Bob Webb will highlight the upcoming event’s sponsors, unique airline and hotel stay packages, as well as the tournament’s beneficiaries.

The 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic will take place this year on April 27, 2019.

The donation from 103.9 KZMI-FM Radio will aid this year’s beneficiaries: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Guam and CNMI, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas.

“A long-time business partner of 103.9 KZMI-FM, Hyatt Regency Saipan has always made efforts to support our island community. We are proud to be a part of such a mission. This charity tournament is a popular golf event and with its limited golf player spots we encourage and welcome businesses to join in sponsorship as well,” said Webb.

Hyatt Regency Saipan Food & Beverage director Tyrell Pauling shares his gratitude with Webb and the 103.9 KZMI-FM Radio team for their continued business partnership and especially for the event partnership. “Hyatt Regency Saipan has partnered with KZMI for a long time; we thank you for your continued support.”

103.9 KZMI-FM Radio station broadcasts adult contemporary music with a touch of the Top 40’s. (PR)

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Members of the Saipan Fil-Am Lion’s Club pose for a photo in front of the freshly-painted bus shelter. (Contributed Photo)

Public School System students who use eight bus stops on Saipan are in for a treat after the service organization Lion’s Club International in the CNMI adopted and repainted them.

The organization, which consists of several smaller clubs in the CNMI, said Thursday that they adopted a total of eight bus stops on Saipan through the Saipan Fil-Am Lion’s Club, Saipan Unity Lion’s Club, Saipan Marianas Lion’s Club, and the Saipan Alliance Lion’s Club.

The Saipan Fil-Am Lion’s Club adopted one bus stop near the Northern Marianas College going into the Finasisu Terraces and another on As Lito Road.

Saipan Unity Lion’s Club adopted one bus shelter in the Tanapag area and another near the Gold Beach Hotel on Beach Road. The latter, according to a statement from the organization, would be turned over to the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

Both Lion’s clubs started their painting and rehabilitation of the bus shelters back in February 2016, the statement noted.

The Saipan Marianas Lion’s Club adopted three bus stops—on Navy Hill, in Gualo Rai, and in Chalan Laulau. The bus shelters are still being repainted and repaired. This group started repairs and repainting in December 2015.

The Saipan Alliance Lion’s Club adopted one bus shelter in the east Chalan Monsignor Martinez Road corner Afetna Drive in Koblerville. This group started repairs and repainting on June 2017.

“After the typhoon, some bus shelters needed repairs, repainting, and cleanup of the surroundings. Once you adopt the bus shelters, primarily it’s your responsibility now to maintain the beautification of the area and the bus shelter itself,” said Lions Club Region 2 chair Annamae Adaza in a statement.

One of the larger challenges for now, she said, include maintenance. Vandalism of the bus shelters are also problematic.

“We are asking the [public] to stop doing it. [The students] are the one benefitting or using the bus shelters and hope they will cooperate so they will have a nice and clean bus shelter,” she stated. “[We are] giving back to our beautiful island and…we will continue helping the community in our own little ways.”

Members of the Saipan Unity Lion’s Club are joined by the Saipan Teen Unity Lion’s Club for a photo in front of the adopted bus shelter. (Contributed Photo)

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The Superior Court denied last Monday a bid to have the traffic cases of a 17-year-old male transferred to juvenile court.

Lance Jude Tenorio Camacho, 17, through his lawyer, made the motion to have his cases transferred.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho denied Camacho’s motion because, according to the judge, who cited the Commonwealth Code, Camacho falls under one of the exceptions when the traffic court has jurisdiction over a violator’s violation, regardless of age.

According to the Commonwealth Code, the chapter does not apply to juvenile violators of non-felony level traffic statutes except a juvenile violator under the age of 16 years at the time of the violation, or if the juvenile is charged with violation of having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more for a person under the age of 21.

Camacho, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was charged with multiple traffic law violations: operating a vehicle without a license, reckless driving, failing to immediately stop a vehicle at the scene of the accident, failing to operate a motor vehicle at a prudent rate of speed, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and being under the influence of alcohol.

Camacho was originally charged with having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more for a person under the age of 21. However, on Feb. 19, the Office of the Attorney amended the charges.

Because Camacho was not charged with having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more for a person under the age of 21 and he was already 16 at the time of the incident, the court had to deny Camacho’s motion to be tried in juvenile court.

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U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David O. Carter has approved the U.S. government’s request for a project with a budget of $600,000 to purchase, ship, and install two horizontal cylindrical tanks for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Power Plant 4 in Puerto Rico, on Saipan.

This project will replace the current corroded horizontal cylindrical tanks with new shop-fabricated tanks of 20,000-gallon capacity each.

Carter said the two newly installed horizontal cylindrical tanks are expected to be fully functional at the completion of the CUC project.

The project will be funded by Court Registry Account.

U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Enforcement Section senior trial attorney Bradley R. O’Brien informed the court last Friday that work on the project will be done by the court-appointed Engineering and Environmental Management Company.

O’Brien said the U.S. government, CUC, and the CNMI government proposed that the project will be funded through the Court Registry Account.

He said Power Plant 4 bulk fuel storage for diesel oil used in power generation is facilitated by four aboveground storage tanks set within a common secondary containment (tank farm) upslope from Power Plant 4.

Within the tank farm, he said, there are two vertical cylindrical tanks and two horizontal cylindrical tanks.

O’Brien said Carter inspected these tanks during the January 2019 status conference.

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ANDERSEN AIR BASE, Guam—The Guam-based “Island Knights” sailors of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 rescued two local spear fishermen after their personal watercraft sank off the east coast of Guam last Thursday.

The men were able to battle the surf and traversed the jagged reef to shore, but were stranded on the cliff line with no avenue of rescue from shore or sea.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam notified HSC-25 of the incident and HSC-25 Search and Rescue led by aircraft commander Lt. Cmdr. Sean Rice recovered the two men via airborne hoist and delivered them to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam.

Flight crew and maintainers, assigned to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, pose for a photo after a successful rescue of two spear fishermen after their personal watercraft sank off the east coast of Guam. (U.S. NAVY/LCDR SEAN RICE)

“This rescue highlighted the professionalism and efficiency of the Island Knight Team,” said Rice. “We received the report during preflight for a scheduled flight event. Within minutes, our maintenance team had the aircraft ready for an expeditious launch. We were able to proceed to an accurate location provided by the squadron duty officer, where Petty Officer Medlin spotted the survivors within minutes of beginning the search. Lt. Ramos moved the aircraft into a stable hover, allowing Petty Officer Washington to deploy via hoist, rapidly recovering both survivors. They were attended to en route to Naval Hospital Guam by Petty Officer Bowen, where they were turned over a mere thirty minutes after launch.”

The incident was the 9th emergency call to HSC-25 by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, the 4th in three weeks, and marks seven recoveries during search and rescue and medical evacuations in 2019.

“I keep saying that I could not be prouder of the Sailors of HSC-25” said commanding officer Cmdr. Frank Loforti. “But every week our Sailors take the squadron to a new level. We have the finest Sailors in the fleet, and I can’t thank them enough for ensuring our aircraft are always ready!”

HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. (Amphibious Force 7th Fleet)

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The Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Science Education, and Environmental Management is inviting everyone who may be interested to attend this week’s public presentations concerning the CNMI archipelago’s corals and climate change.

Two talks will occur this Wednesday evening, April 17, from 5:30pm to 7pm at the American Memorial Park auditorium on Saipan.

Status, Trends and Future Outlook for the Corals of the CNMI by Doug Fenner

Saipan’s corals have taken a hit, but they are not gone by a long shot. Mass coral bleaching has killed some, but most survived and recovered. Most kinds of corals survived just fine. However, 3 genera had heavy mortality: about 90 percent of Acropora died, and two-thirds of Pocillopora and Stylophora died. Corals can recover from those levels of mortality, but it takes time, maybe around 10 years. Those that survived are likely more temperature-resistant than those that died. It is important to not let crown-of-thorns starfish eat them. It will also be better if there isn’t another mass bleaching event for 10 years or more. What can we do? Control crown-of-thorns, push society and governments to act on climate change, reduce other human impacts like fishing, sediments, nutrients, etc.

Coral Restoration in the CNMI: The Saipan Coral Nursery Pilot Project at Mañagaha by Lyza Johnston and Steve McKagan

From 2013 to 2017, the CNMI had four major thermal stress and mass bleaching events, resulting in large-scale coral mortality and changes in community composition across the archipelago. Surveys in 2018 revealed a 66-percent reduction in overall coral cover since 2012, with over 90 percent of Acropora spp. corals, 75 percent of Pocillopora spp., and over 90 percent of staghorn Acropora spp. corals lost. It has become clear that active conservation and restoration strategies are urgently needed to maintain coral populations and vital ecosystem functions. Coral colonies that have survived the four, near-onsecutive bleaching events in the CNMI have demonstrated resilience to thermal stress, making them ideal candidates for propagation, culturing, and outplanting to degraded reefs in the face of ongoing ocean warming and environmental change. NOAA Pacific Island Regional Office is working with local contractors and government agencies to establish a pilot ocean nursery for corals in the Saipan lagoon. This project, which is known as the “Saipan Coral Nursery Pilot Project,” represents the first effort to develop a coral nursery in the CNMI.

APASEEM is a locally-based nongovernmental, nonprofit, and nonadvocacy organization with a long history of supporting the sharing of new science and science education information and environmental best management practices with the CNMI public. For more information, view its website at www.apaseem.org or contact any of the group’s current officers, Roy Adsit (president, roy.adsit@cnmipss.org), Michael Trianni (vice president, mtrianni@ymail.com), Andre Kozij (treasurer, akaspn88@gmail.com) or John Furey (secretary, jfurey.saipan.com@gmail.com or via phone at 670-483-5389. (PR)

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Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan) wants the Legislature to have a clearer picture of the financial state of the CNMI government. To that end, she wishes the Torres administration would give out more concrete information about the CNMI’s fiscal state.

She also has a list of questions that she has for the administration once the House Ways and Means Committee, of which she is a member, begins going over the administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2020.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has identified $233.22 million in gross budgetary resources that the government expects to collect next fiscal year—a 9.7- percent drop from the $258.14 million budget last fiscal year.

“We’re looking to start the budget hearings in May. Committee chair Blanco has asked the members to closely study the budget proposal, and start documenting and taking notes. I’m listing some of the questions that I have for the administration. So, we’re ready as soon as the hearing starts,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune in an interview. Blanco refers to committee chair Rep. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan).

Sablan is one of the minority members of the committee, which helps shape the CNMI government’s budget every fiscal year.

Two highly destructive storms—Typhoon Mangkhut and Super Typhoon Yutu—hit the CNMI in a one-month span last year, gravely affecting economic activity on the islands, especially on Saipan where tourism was at a standstill for almost two months.

Sablan said Blanco had asked committee members to go over the budget plan with a fine-toothed comb.

She said the Finance Department has yet to update the committee on the financial state of affairs of the government in general. “Specifically, for the special casino gross revenue tax account. That’s one of the questions that the committee submitted to Finance over a month ago. As of Friday, we had not received any update on the current status of that account.”

Sablan used House Bill 21-37, which would re-appropriate $1.2 million from Public Law 20-62 Section 2(c)(2) to fund the salaries of municipal employees on Tinian, as an example. “Last year, the money was available and appropriated for a Tinian road project. But a lot of things had happened since then. We know money has been moving around between accounts, so I wanted to see some verification in writing that those funds are still there for Tinian’s proposal.”

“To me, it wasn’t reassuring that all we have are verbal assurances that it is there. It should be there because Tinian has not touched the money yet for the road project. We know that, even in the Legislature, funds had disappeared from our own accounts. So, I think we need some timely, accurate, and truthful reports from Finance on the state of our financial affairs.”

She added that the Legislature needs concrete proof to back up the government’s optimism that the local economy would rebound. “I have to say that there are members, like myself, that have questions about that optimism. That collections will improve in the remainder of this fiscal year. But if you talk to members of the business community, particularly in the tourism industry, they don’t express that same kind of optimism.”

“I think that, if we’re looking at bigger cuts and looking at a bigger shortfall, we need some of that information as soon as possible. We need the administration to be honest about that. If there’s real basis for the optimism they express, we need to see a much clearer justification and the real plan for how we will operate the government for the next six months. What does this mean for the next [fiscal year 2020] budget?

The problem with the Legislature not getting timely and accurate information has always been a problem, Sablan said.

“That’s the perennial frustration of the Legislature. …This is an ongoing frustration dating back many years. Our lack of access to timely and accurate information about our government’s finances makes it really difficult for us [lawmakers] to do our job.”

“We’re supposed to be controlling the government’s purse. But how can we do that if we don’t have any information about what’s actually in that purse? We hope Finance answered all of our questions that Rep. Ralph Yumul, in his capacity as acting Ways and Means chair, sent. And I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

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A recreation of the iconic Japanese woodblock print The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. (Contributed photo)

Ninth grade students of Grace Christian Academy were able to unite environmental science and art in a project where they decorated bulletin boards in the high school building to raise awareness about the problem of plastic.

The assignment in the Environmental Science Class of Geri Rodgers was for the students to either replicate a famous piece or focus on a critically endangered species. The students chose plastic as the featured item for their artwork.

A recreation of Vincent van Gogh’s painting, Starry Night. (Contributed photo)

Among the pieces submitted were recreations of Vincent van Gogh’s painting, Starry Night, and the iconic Japanese woodblock print The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai.

Additionally, the students incorporated geometry by calculating the number of bottle caps and bottles it would take to cover a minimum of 30 percent of the surface area of their rectangular bulletin board. They also wrote a short paragraph about the environmental issue they selected. One group quoted Jacques Cousteau: “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”

Conrad Bao won second place at the Bridge Capital Art Competition at the 38th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival with his original creation Dancing Lady. The ballerina’s tutu is made of plastic bags. (Contributed photo)

In a span of two short weeks students worked together to produce masterpieces. Conrad Bao entered his beautiful, original creation Dancing Lady—with the ballerina’s tutu made of plastic bags—in the annual Bridge Capital Art Competition at the 38th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival. He won second place.

As the CNMI celebrates Earth Day on April 23, “let us be compelled to seek alternative, sustainable solutions for plastic use so we can be better stewards of God’s creation on our beautiful island,” said Rodgers in an email. (Saipan Tribune)

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The preliminary hearing for Jordan Tudela, the man who threatened to kill himself in December by jumping off a building, was pushed back because of ongoing negotiations to resolve the case without going to trial.

The preliminary hearing for Tudela, 36, which was initially set for April 16, was pushed back to May 22 because defense and the prosecution are currently negotiating the terms of a possible plea agreement.

If terms are agreed on, a preliminary hearing would not be necessary anymore because a sentence would be ready to be imposed.

Tudela, who threatened to jump off a three-story building in Chalan Kanoa in December 2018, has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, child abuse, and disturbing the peace. He was allegedly caught sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in Chalan Kanoa.

According to court information, Tudela’s girlfriend and the alleged eyewitness of the assault told police that she caught Tudela sexually molesting the 11-year-old girl in their home in Chalan Kanoa.

The eyewitness told police that she panicked and ran out of the room and immediately called police for assistance. Tudela reportedly left the house prior to the arrival of Department of Public Safety officers.

The 11-year-old victim later allegedly told police that Tudela had threatened to kill her family if she reports what he did to her.

Tudela allegedly begged his girlfriend not to report the matter to authorities, and that she reported the incident nonetheless, prompting him to climb atop a building and threaten to jump off.

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The road going up Mt. Tapochau is ready for Good Friday.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang noted that, after two weeks of preparation, Mt. Tapochau Road is ready for the pilgrims expected to take part in the trek up the mountain as part of the annual observance of Good Friday.

“We are already finished with preparations and people should be setting up tomorrow for the trek [today],” said Apatang, recognizing that there are a few who start the trek very early on the morning.

The usual groups such as the United Filipino Organization, the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, and even the CNMI Office of the Governor would be handing out refreshments along the path.

“This is an annual thing we do for Good Friday. We have been getting a lot of support from businesses as far as water and fruits are concerned,” he said.

The mayor’s office made the road smoother by first installing a base course, then compressing it.

“We got about 10 loads [for the road],” he said.

The office also rented a compacter and a water tanker.

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