Sailors assigned to the “Island Knight” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 pose for a photo after providing aerial firefighting for a brush fire that occurred in the Naval Magazine area of Santa Rita last April 22.
(U.S. NAVY /PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS JORDAN CROUCH)

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam—The Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 provided aerial firefighting for southern Guam, along the northeastern edge of Naval Magazine, when a brush fire quickly began to spread and threaten local homes of Santa Rita last April 21.

U.S. Navy Fire and Joint Regions Marianas notified HSC-25 that evening that the fire was out of control and HSC-25’s assistance was required.

The HSC-25 aerial firefighting was led by aircraft commander, Lt. Nicklaus Gfeller, and successfully contained the fire using 4,200 gallons of water.

“The maintenance duty section did a fantastic job of quickly modifying the aircraft configuration to support fire bucket operations,” said Gfeller. “he flight crew quickly found our rhythm to effectively drop water on the fire to contain it.”

The incident was the second firefighting request to HSC-25 in 2019 to date.

“Our sailors work diligently day in and day out to ensure our aircraft are capable of 24/7 support anywhere in the…Marianas,” said HSC-25 commanding officer Cmdr. Frank Loforti. “Yesterday’s aerial firefighting was one of the many examples of how rewarding their hard work can be. I could not be [prouder] of the Island Knight maintainers and flight crew this Easter evening.”

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 Public Affairs)

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School year 2019-2020 registration for Kindergarten is scheduled to begin at San Vicente Elementary School on June 3. Registrations will take place in the temporary main office (Rm. L32) near the cafeteria from June 3 to June 7, from 1pm to 3pm only.

Register during the above dates and times to ensure their Kindergarten child is enrolled for the upcoming school year. Your child must be 5 years of age on or before Sept. 30, 2019, to be enrolled.

New student registration for Grades 1 to 5 will open on June 24, from 9am to 11:30am and from 1:30 to 3:30pm. All new student registration packets must be complete upon registration: copy of birth certificate, original school entrance health certificate (from CHCC or any private clinic, copy of updated medical insurance (Medicaid, government or private insurance, or student accidental insurance from a private insurance policy holder), copies of photo identification of parents and individuals (aside from parents) that will be indicated as emergency contacts on the registration form, copy of power attorney/legal guardianship (if applicable) , and copy of report card or certificate of completion from the exiting school.

Should you have any questions, contact 664-3981. (PR)

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Grace Christian Academy’s April K-3 Math Court winners have their picture taken at the school’s Raymond S. Kinsella Library. (Contributed Photo)

Grace Christian Academy congratulates the winners in the K-3 division of Math Court from the monthly qualifying competition held at Marianas High School last April 6, 2019.

Seorae Lee won second place and Hayul Hsin won third place in first grade.

Hans Ordas won first place in second grade.

Llana Jaira Manalang won first place in 3rd grade.

The Grace Christian Academy proctors were Marilyn Aldan and Maricel Javier, while the GCA Math Court coordinator was Susan Pajarillaga. (PR)

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The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has started this week replacing 1,157 electric meters in Dandan with newer units to cut down on losses arising from obsolete meters in the area.

CUC financial account manager Betty Terlaje said Wednesday that the project will be done within 30 days—or by the end of May.

Upon completing the meter installation in Dandan, Terlaje said, CUC will wait for one month to study the impact of the new meters, then Phase II of the project will commence within 30 days to allow CUC’s staff to maximize the software potential before expanding.

Right now, the old meters are the old model of the Nighthawk Advanced Metering Infrastructures electric meters.

Betty Terlaje

The newer model of the same electric meters will be installed. This is a federally funded project.

Terlaje held a presentation about the project during a CUC board meeting last Wednesday.

She said that, under the project, they are replacing the obsolete electro-mechanical meter models so that they can improve CUC’s metering and billing programs.

“In addition, it will provide quality management for distribution on the power generation side,” she said.

Terlaje said that an Advanced Metering Infrastructures is an integrated system of smart meters, communication networks, and data management systems that enable a two-way communication network between the utility and customers.

A Nighthawk AMI meter is capable of a two-way communication network using a Web-based metering system that commands radio frequencies through cellular towers.

CUC currently has over 3,000 Nighthawk AMI meters in its inventory.

Terlaje said the Web-based metering system is provided through a Web software portal called Adaptiv that allows for system organization of the meters and analysis of customer activity and meter data.

Among the many benefits are that there will be no more manual reading, reduced vehicle and fuel use resulting in savings, improved billing accuracy and billing credibility, real-time data that benefits the customers and CUC, and remote outage detection capabilities.

As of May 2018, CUC reported that they were able to install 491 AMI meters for residential and government accounts on Saipan.

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The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. failed to meet its projected revenue of $27.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019 because of Super Typhoon Yutu’s devastation.

CUC budget officer Corina Magofna disclosed that the agency’s expected earnings in the second quarter was short by $8.3 million due to the restoration efforts in the months of January, February, and March this year.

Yutu devastated Saipan and Tinian last Oct. 24 and 25.

“For operating expenses, we underspent by a million dollars,” said Magofna in her presentation about CUC’s financial updates during CUC’s board meeting last Wednesday.

CUC’s projection for personnel and operating expenses and capital outlays was $27.8 million for the second quarter, but it spent only $26.8 million.

On the status of Yutu expenses as of March 31, 2019, Magofna said they recorded a total of $16.9 million worth of expenses.

“Out of that, we already paid $15.5 million to our vendors,” she said.

That means CUC still owes its vendors $1.36 million.

Out of the $16.9 million in CUC expenses for Yutu, it already asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency $9.7 million in reimbursements, Magofna said.

Out of that $9.7 million, CUC has already been paid $6.3 million.

Magofna said they are also expecting to receive this month $4.3 million in FEMA reimbursement from Typhoon Soudelor, which hit the CNMI in August 2015.

“We are just waiting on FEMA to give us the payment,” she said.

She said they did receive last April 15 FEMA reimbursement for water system mitigation totaling $228,000.

CUC has a budget of $122 million this fiscal year.

At the end of second quarter, CUC spent 44 percent or $53 million out of that budget, Magofna said, leaving a balance of $68 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

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Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC belied reports that it’s behind in its tax payments, in the wake of a Department of Finance statement that casino gross revenue tax collected amounted to only $41,000 since the start of the fiscal year.

“Since we have been here, we have been paying our taxes. We have paid about $155 million of [business gross revenue tax] in cash. When you see our receivables, VIPs come and they are not paying us back, the island still got $155 million of tax in cash,” said IPI CEO and president Mark Brown in an interview following Thursday’s Commonwealth Casino Commission board meeting at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.

At the House Ways and Means Committee meeting last Wednesday, CNMI Finance officials led by Ryan Camacho disclosed that IPI so far has only remitted $41,000 in BGRT from October 2018 to April 23, 2019. That’s a far cry from the BGRT payments of $40.9 million in 2016, $67.7 million in 2017, and $43.6 million in 2018.

“In the couple of months that people are saying that we are behind, we are actually meeting with our accountants and looking into ‘credits’ that we have coming to us. …What does that mean? Do we or don’t we have credits coming? Once we have the answers to that, which we will be getting by this week, then we will go back to continue to pay what’s due,” Brown said.

Unfortunately, businesses have slowed down for the whole island and not just the casino, he added.

“We used to pay BGRT in the amount of $10 million, $15 million, $8 million but, obviously, businesses have slowed down. We will get back up to that number again one day,” he said.

“As everyone else understands, many businesses had problems on staffing, some businesses closed [but] we didn’t,” he added. “…We are still struggling along. We are losing money every month but that’s the reality. …The credits we still feel that are coming to us on those monthly recent BGRT moneys, our accountants and chief financial officer are trying to find out and, again, once we get the answer, we will go back and update the money for the previous months,” he added.

Brown reiterated that IPI knows the importance of fulfilling their responsibilities to the CNMI government and people. “We are here to pay our taxes. We are here to help. I know that the government is working very hard to help all the businesses on island and the Commonwealth Casino Commission is very supportive,” he said.

“Whether you love us or hate us, we are a huge part of this island. So, if we are successful, then the entire island is successful—not just the government with taxes but everybody’s businesses. Restaurants and bars will flourish because we will just keep bringing people here, as our plan is to be very successful for everyone,” he added.

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A woman was indicted in federal court last Friday for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to make methamphetamine through the so-called shake-and-bake method.

The indictment charged Joanne Marie Deleon Guerrero Castro with one count of conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to make methamphetamine.

Castro, through her court-appointed counsel Robert T. Torres, pleaded not guilty last Friday morning.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona set Castro’s jury trial on July 2, 2019, at 10am.

Castro was released on an unsecured $100 bond. The judge okayed no location monitoring for Castro but only set some home detention requirements. Torres and assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe agreed to this.

According to the indictment, between Aug. 12, 2017 and Jan. 25, 2018, Castro conspired with others to possess pseudoephedrine, knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

The indictment also contains a notice that upon conviction of the controlled substance offense, Castro shall forfeit to the U.S. government any property constituting proceeds that defendant obtained as the result of such offense.

Last Wednesday, Manglona imposed a sentence of three years and five months of imprisonment on David Muna Sablan, who entered a guilty plea for leaving two bags in Garapan that were found to contain chemicals and items used in making methamphetamine or “ice” through the “shake-and- bake” method.

Last March 15, Manglona slapped Vincent David Cabrera Jr. and Eugene Repeki Jr. each with a sentence of 15 years imprisonment. They pleaded guilty to allegations that they were involved in a clandestine crystal methamphetamine or “ice laboratory” using the so-called shake-and -bake method.

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HAGÅTÑA, Guam—Another $2.3 million in rebase funding has been transmitted to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, adding to the more than $9 million the hospital has received in rebasing funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since January 2019.

The $2.3 million GMHA just received is part of a rebase adjustment to the hospital’s fiscal year 2017 Medicare Cost Report. The total rebase adjustment funding transmitted to GMHA since January is now $11 million.

“Our government has been striving for parity for decades while working with the bare minimum, resulting in the inability to pay down its debt. Nevertheless, our passionate nurses, doctors and professional staff at GMH never wavered in their commitment to provide the highest degree of healthcare to our patients,” said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. “We are consistently restoring balance to our hospital and I am optimistic that this good working relationship with CMS will continue.”

GMHA Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas added: “The infusion of additional cash from Medicare rebasing is not just a win for GMH, but a win for the community we serve. Hospital care at GMH will always be delivered regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, so we must continue to build upon this success in order to support and improve GMH’s delivery of lifesaving services in a safe environment.”

In January, CMS approved, for the first time since 1998, GMHA’s request to rebase its rate for services to patients under Medicare, from a rate of $5,154 per hospital discharge to $9,511 per discharge, with the rate to increase annually based on a market basket index.

As a result, GMHA received $6.3 million on Feb. 7 for its FY 2014, FY 2015 and FY 2016 Medicare Cost Reports. On April 12, GMHA received another $2.4 million for its FY 2018 Medicare Cost Report. The hospital expects upwards of $6 million additionally each year for payments on Medicare, Medicaid and MIP accounts.

In addition to an adjustment to its rebase rate, CMS also approved an increase to GMHA’s per diem rate by 26 percent to $1,646 which became effective April 17. (PR)

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The CNMI Department of Commerce immediately went to work and coordinated with the Consumer Protection Division of the CNMI Office of the Attorney soon after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signed the order declaring a price freeze on basic commodities in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu in October last year.

That was when Torres declared a state of significant emergency and a state of major disaster declaration for the CNMI. Both declarations were also approved by the White House

Acting Commerce secretary Mark O. Rabauliman said all information on price gouging or establishments and other businesses not following the price freeze were given to the OAG’s Consumer Protection Division, which is headed by Michele Harris.

The price freeze is still in effect for the entire CNMI after Torres extended the declaration of major disaster and state of significant emergency for the islands for another 30 days.

“There were [violations] just a couple of weeks after Yutu. We received some calls of potential violations [and] gave it to the OAG’s Consumer Protection Division,” Rabauliman said. “Technically, it is under the jurisdiction of the OAG. As far as Commerce’s role, we helped out in disseminating information to all the businesses as we deal with them directly.”

Rabauliman said they compile all reports they receive before forwarding them to the CPD. “In terms of any violation that was reported in, we take the messages and information in, then put together a packet and forwarded it to the AG’s office for their review.

“And their agency [CPD], would handle it the way they see fit. Our role here is really advocating equity…all throughout, maintaining the message that has been put up by the Office of the Governor with regards to the price freeze.”

A sudden increase in rental fees was the most common complaint that the OAG received after Yutu, as residents who lost their homes scrambled to find housing and other means of accommodations.

Demand for apartment and other types of shelter increased after Yutu as many residential units, most especially in the southern portion of the island and on Tinian, were destroyed by one of the most powerful weather disturbances to hit the CNMI.

The CPD is advising the public to report possible price gouging and other violations of the Price Freeze Act. For more information, contact Harris at (670) 237-7500.

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Bank of Guam president and chief executive officer Joaquin Cook, center, hands the $15,000 ceremonial check to Joeten Enterprises president Annie T. Sablan, seated left, and other Joeten executives last Friday at the Bank of Guam office in Garapan. The donation is for the 2019 Joeten Memorial Golf Classic that will be held on June 22 at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Bank of Guam has donated $15,000 for the 2019 Joeten Memorial Golf Classic, making the company a title sponsor of the tournament that will be held on June 22 at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

Bank of Guam president and chief executive officer Joaquin Cook handed the ceremonial check to Joeten Enterprises president Annie T. Sablan and other Joeten executives last Friday at the Bank of Guam, Garapan branch. Bank of Guam executives and family members and officers of the Joeten Daidai Foundation were also present at the turnover ceremony.

“We see this opportunity for the bank to support a good cause and support a good partner and long-time family friend in Joeten Enterprises. Bank of Guam has corporate responsibilities and we are happy and proud that we are in position where we could give back and find ways to help the community. Our company is founded on the values of helping the community we serve,” said Cook.

The 2019 Joeten Memorial Golf Classic is a fundraising event for the Joeten Daidai Foundation, which supports various community and outreach programs in the CNMI, particularly education.

“Our grandfather (Jose “Joeten” Camacho Tenorio) encouraged all of us to go to school. At Joeten, we want to invest in education. That’s how you run the economy. You get the youth education and encourage them to come back and help build the workforce, build the economy,” said 2019 Joeten Memorial Golf Classic tournament director Peter “Dung” Tenorio.

The Joeten Daidai Foundation gives scholarship to seven college students every year, according to one of its directors, Patty McDonald. The foundation also helps Karidat, the Commonwealth Cancer Association/Marianas March Against Cancer, and other groups.

The foundation is hoping to raise more than $100,000 from the 2019 Joeten Memorial Golf Classic, which is also being held as part of the celebration of Joeten’s 70th anniversary.

“This golf tournament is a special event because we are having it as we celebrate our 70th year. Not too many companies, especially local ones, are able to reach this milestone, so we want to celebrate it with our business partners like Bank of Guam, friends, vendors, and other supporters who have been with us through the years,” Tenorio said.

“We are truly grateful to all supporters of Joeten Daidai Foundation because with their help, we are able to continue serving back our island, our home. We hope to continue making a difference in people’s lives,” McDonald said. (Saipan Tribune)

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A man who allegedly attempted to assault a police officer with a knife pleaded not guilty yesterday to all the charges.

Daniel Jake Kaipat, 26, offered a plea of not guilty through his lawyer, Office of the Public Defender’s Stephanie Boutsicaris, before Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja.

Kaipat is facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, and disturbing the peace.

Naraja ordered Kaipat to return to court for a status conference on June 4.

Kaipat allegedly swung a knife at a Department of Public Safety officer who was trying to disarm him last April 9.

On that day, police had responded to a disturbing-the-peace complaint at the Marine Beach in Kagman 3 at about 8:21am.

At the scene, police met with the callers, Kaipat’s brother and mother, Marciano Kaipat and Josepha Kaipat, who warned police that Kaipat had been inhaling butane fumes and had a knife.

Josepha Kaipat tried to convince her son to give her the knife but Kaipat allegedly refused and pointed the blade tip at her and threatened to stab and kill her.

Police then stepped in and allegedly tried several times to convince Kaipat to cooperate with them but he would not comply and drop the knife.

One of the officers then used pepper spray on Kaipat, who responded by swinging the knife at him. The officer managed to disarm Kaipat with his baton, while another officer restrained Kaipat and brought him to the Department of Corrections.

Marciano later told police that he and Kaipat got into an altercation about a guitar earlier that day and Kaipat used his head to hit Mariano’s head, choked him, and pushed him.

Kaipat remains in custody after he failed to post the cash bail of $10,000.

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The federal court sentenced a man to seven years and three months in prison yesterday after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with other to make the drug methamphetamine using the so-called shake-and- bake method.

Sidney Capelle Kani was sentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, plus 47 months for the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine on premises where a child is present and resides.

This means a total sentence of 87 months in prison—or seven years and three months.

He was given credit for time already served in prison since his arrest last year.

As part of his sentence, he will be made to undergo drug rehabilitation, an educational program, anger management, and alcohol abuse counseling while in prison.

Upon release, he will be on supervised release for three years.

As a further condition of his supervised release, Kani must participate in a substance abuse treatment program, refrain from the use of any alcoholic beverages, and perform 100 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay $100 in special assessment fee.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona granted the U.S. government’s motion to drop the remaining two charges against Kani.

Assistant U.S. attorney Garth Backe had recommended a sentence of 78 months in prison. Colin Thompson, the court-appointed counsel for Kani, recommended imprisonment of 70 months.

Kani pleaded guilty in May 2018.

In his sentencing recommendation, Backe said that Kani admitted that, over a two-month span, he obtained numerous items “to use to make meth” which he, along with the other conspirators, “would smoke, as well as sell and/or give to other people.”

Backe said that Kani admitted to acting as a middleman for a drug deal on Feb. 1, 2018.

In his admissions, Kani said that, between July 1, 2017, and Feb. 25, 2018, his co-defendants—Vincent David Cabrera Jr., Eugene Blas Repeki Jr., and Rick Urumelog Omar Jr.—along with others, agreed to manufacture and distribute meth.

Beginning at least Jan. 1, 2018, Kani knew of the group’s agreement to make and distribute meth and that he joined in the agreement.

The remaining defendants also pleaded guilty.

Last March 15, Manglona sentenced Cabrera and co-defendant Eugene Blas Repeki Jr. to 15 years imprisonment each.

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All twelve teams that participated in IT&E’s annual Race for Life scavenger hunt fundraiser last Sunday pose for a photo. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

The Public School System team remains the team to beat in IT&E’s Race for Life scavenger hunt, beating out 11 other teams to emerge champion last Sunday morning.

PSS’ team of five, called “You Gon Learn Today,” won the championship trophy in the 2nd Annual Race for Life despite a drastic change in the race itself and a bunch of new rules.

According to team spokesperson Brandon San Nicolas, patience and trust in one another was key to their success.

“Because this is our second race, we were just patient, we didn’t rush into things, we understood it was better to be safe and we trusted our instincts and our driver and our whole team. We all had different strengths and we all helped each other,” he said.

San Nicolas said that their focus wasn’t winning, especially since they were the last of 12 teams to leave the base along Airport Road.

“We realized where we would catch up and our strong points and we didn’t worry too much about being last. Instead, we focused on where we could catch up,” he said.

San Nicolas and his teammates—Jessica Estrada, Bobby Coldeen, A.J. Mendoza, and Ben Jones Jr.—split $5,000 worth of in-kind prizes among themselves.

“I just want to thank IT&E for putting up another successful event for all the participating teams and we’re just grateful to be a part of this and we were able to support such a great cause,” he said.

Coming in at second place was team Chupachups sponsored by Mayhan Industries. The team took home more than $750 worth of gift certificates.

Team DFS took the Best Spirit award and they won $500 worth of gift certificates and donations also from various businesses.

The “Race for Life” was able to raise about $4,000 for the upcoming Marianas March Against Cancer.

This year, according to IT&E marketing manager Natasha Tomokane, IT&E improved the race by incorporating a lot more of their technological services.

“We felt like last year we set a threshold for how competitive we wanted each of the challenges to be. A lot of the participants noted that it was a little easy and they got done on time, so this year we made it a little more technology-related to our services,” she said.

Instead of finding ribbons, each of the 12 groups were given Shell locations where they would find QR codes to scan. After scanning, the code would generate coordinates that would lead to a location where a task was to be done and documented for proof and sent to the remaining member of the team at the base.

Proceeds from the Race for Life event will go to the Marianas March Against Cancer and is part of IT&E’s fundraisers for the upcoming event.

“…We know it was a Sunday, it’s family day, but…we’re very happy with the outcome,” she said.

The Public School System team “You Gon Learn Today” pose for a photo after being named the champions of the 2nd annual Race for Life scavenger hunt last Sunday organized by IT&E. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

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Telecommunications firm IT&E supports the Commonwealth Cancer Association through its signature fundraising event, Marianas March Against Cancer. (Contributed Photos)

Telecommunications firm IT&E supported several causes and organizations this past March and April: the Commonwealth Cancer Association’s Marianas March Against Cancer; the “Art in the Ville” art show in Guam; the 23rd Annual Hyatt Regency Golf Classic to benefit the Make-A-Wish-Foundation of Guam and the CNMI, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas; the 38th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival; the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament; and the 10th Annual 76 Paddles Against Cancer in Guam.

IT&E also supported the following: the medical needs of Guam children requiring surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate through the Dusit Smiles Golf Championship held on April 26 with a donation of $500; awareness for Autism and fundraising for resources for the HunterSpeaks organization through the documentary, Blue Island, with a donation of $3,000; showcasing Saipan through the 30th Tagaman Triathlon held last March 30 by the Triathlon Association of the CNMI and the Marianas Visitors Authority with a donation of $3,000; and efforts of Guam Cancer Care and American Cancer Society through Bank of Guam’s IFIT Run and Block Party held on March 9 with a donation of $2,500.

Angela Rosario, director of Marketing and Product Development at IT&E, said: “Our partnerships with these organizations and support of the amazing work they do every day is grounded in our dedication to our community, our children, our culture, and the health of our people.” (PR)

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The 35th Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held this Friday, May 3, at 9:30am at the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom, the former Sandcastle.

Eight high schools will be participating in this year’s competition: Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Tinian High School, and Kagman High School.

According to Attorney General Ed Manibusan, the competition provides the CNMI’s high school students with the opportunity to research an issue that affects the Commonwealth, form a position on the issue, and showcase their voice and passion on the topic.

This year’s topic focuses on the legalization of cannabis in the CNMI.

Specifically, it asks the questions: Is the passage of Public Law 20-66 a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

In preparing their speech, the students are asked to consider the following:

1) Cannabis is still illegal federally; discuss how this could affect production and consumption of cannabis in the CNMI. How has it affected production and consumption in other jurisdictions?

2) What types of regulatory systems have been developed in other jurisdictions that allow recreational cannabis use?

3) What have been the positives and negatives associated with recreational cannabis use in jurisdictions that have legalized its use?

“The passing of Public Law 20-66 on Sept. 21, 2018, made for a historic, yet, contentious topic in the CNMI,” said Manibusan.

The public is invited to attend this event. (PR)

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GUAM—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with two Guam-based construction companies to resolve stormwater discharge violations at a Tumon Bay construction site in Guam.

Both companies—Asanuma Kokuba Joint Venture and Nippo USA Inc.—will pay a settlement of $129,048 to resolve the violations in their Hotel Nikko expansion—the Tsubaki Tower project—which were found to lack controls to prevent discharge of pollutants into Tumon Bay and the Pacific Ocean in Guam.

“Our goal is to protect Tumon Bay and all of Guam’s sensitive coastal waters for this and future generations,” said EPA Pacific Southwest regional administrator Mike Stoker. “We’ll continue to work closely with Guam EPA to ensure construction projects have the needed controls to keep pollution and sediment from washing offsite during rain storms.”

An EPA inspection found the project’s construction companies were operating without the required Clean Water Act stormwater construction general permit and had an unauthorized non-stormwater discharge from the construction site at the time of inspection. 

EPA also found that the best management practices that were in place to control the discharge of stormwater were not properly implemented.

EPA said that, in addition to paying a settlement amount, both companies have already obtained the proper permit and corrected the site’s stormwater controls.

Many construction sites have operations that disturb soil and include areas for maintenance and cleaning of equipment. Rainfall runoff flowing through such sites can pick up pollutants, such as sediment, metals from exposed steel, and other chemicals found in construction products, and transport them directly to nearby waterways, degrading water quality and damaging coral reefs.

Federal regulations require construction sites to obtain coverage under EPA’s Stormwater Construction General Permit by implementing best management practices to keep pollutants out of stormwater, preventing non-stormwater discharges from the site, and following a site-specific stormwater pollution control plan.

The settlement is subject to a 30-day comment period before becoming final. (PR)

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New PH passports for releasing

The Philippine Consulate General in Guam, in coordination with the Office of Honorary Consul Eli Arago, will be releasing passports to those who renewed their passports last March 3, 4 and 5. You can pick up your new passport at Finasisu Terraces Apartment Bldg D, second floor, top of the Mini-Mart Store, Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm (12pm to 1pm, breaktime).

Bring your old passport and receipt when claiming your new passport. If someone else will pick up the passport, there must be an authorization letter from the applicant. For any inquiry or details, call Mel Santos at 233-6293. (PR)

GCC board meeting set

The Guam Community College board of trustees monthly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 12pm, in the President’s Conference Room, located on the second floor of the Administration Building, GCC campus. Individuals requiring special accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services should contact 735-5597. (PR)

JKPL, Bookmobile closed for inventory

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and Bookmobile Outreach Services will be closed for five days for inventory, from May 14 to May 18, 2019. All penalties for items due during this period will be waived. We ask the public for your cooperation in utilizing library programs and services in the days not covered by inventory.

For the latest news and events, visit the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s website at www.cnmilib.org and like and/or follow JKPL’s Facebook page, @joeten kiyu. Follow the library on Instagram @joetenkiyu, Pinterest @ Joeten Kiyu, and Snapchat @JoetenKiyu. The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s hours of operation are as follows: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-6pm, Saturday, 9am-4pm, and closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. (PR)

Military training in open ocean, at Warning Area 517

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Navy will conduct an open-ocean exercise on April 30 from 8am to 6pm at the following coordinates 13° 542″N/144° 379″E. 

The Navy will conduct training at Warning Area 517 on April 30 and May 1, from 11am to 11:55pm.

It is recommended the public, fishermen and marine tour operators monitor the Coast Guard broadcast notice to mariners for advisories. It is also recommended the public, commercial pilots, fishermen and marine tour operators stay clear from the area during the dates and times indicated.

W-517 begins south of Guam and extends south-southwest in international waters.

These types of trainings are designed to enhance the readiness of military personnel. (PR)

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The commuter tenants at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport no longer operate out of tents in the commuter parking area, according to Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Christopher S. Tenorio Tuesday.

He did not elaborate, though, but Saipan Tribune later learned from CPA that commuter tenants—Star Marianas Air, Arctic Circle Air, Vertical Air, and LSG Sky Chefs—are now using containers that CPA had converted into offices. These containers have air-conditioning units. There was no immediate information as to when the tenants moved to the containers.

After Super Typhoon’s devastation last October, the commuter building, which handles inter-island flights between Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, sustained extensive damage. As a result, commuter tenants were forced to operate out of tents in the commuter parking area.

A CPA project status report disclosed that, as of last Wednesday, April 24, the commuter terminal canopy replacement project is on hold until CPA decides on the fate of the commuter terminal.

According to the status report obtained by Saipan Tribune, the canopy replacement project consists of replacing the steel canopy from the commuter terminal to the bus parking lot.

Outside the commuter terminal, the canopy collapsed due to Yutu.

Yutu’s biggest damage at the Saipan airport were the air-conditioning units. The project to replace them is ongoing, according to CPA, with four of the eight units already installed.

According to CPA’s latest status report, the project consists of replacing eight air-conditioning units, including two at the departure terminal, two at the arrival Customs terminal, three at the west corridor, and one at the arrival immigration area.

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Without naming them, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres stressed that his administration is not letting any company get away with not paying its taxes.

“We encourage all companies to comply with our tax code…and that means everybody.

“… We’ve seen companies in the CNMI that have been here since the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s that are still paying back taxes,” he said.

Last week at the House Ways and Means Committee meeting, Finance officials, led by Ryan Camacho, disclosed that one of the biggest business taxpayers, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LCC, has so far only remitted $41,000 in casino gross revenue tax from October 2018 to April 23, 2019.

This is a far cry from the $40.9 million CGRT payment that IPI paid in 2016, $67.7 million in 2017, and $43.6 million in 2018.

Torres said the tax laws apply to everyone and not just IPI. “We would like to make sure that they are in compliance.

He acknowledged that many companies, and not just IPI, has had workforce issues lately. “…Everybody has been having issues with workforce. …It is not just IPI that is affected…”

“Look at all the other big investments that have been here. like the hotels. They’ve ceased continuing what they want to do and this is alarming for the administration as we see other projects that are also on hold because of the problem with our workforce.” he added.

Torres reiterated that his administration is working with these companies to find solutions to their issues and not to penalize them. “For all businesses, we are here to work as partners and we are not here to find a way to penalize. We are here to make sure we are business partners…” he said.

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One of two men who reportedly burglarized a house in Kagman has pleaded guilty to one of three charges against him; his alleged accomplice is set to follow suit.

Amado Kereman, 18, pleaded guilty through his lawyer, assistant public defender Stephanie Boutsicaris, to burglary, only one of three charges against him. The two other charges, conspiracy and theft, were dismissed with prejudice as part of a plea agreement.

The other man allegedly involved in the burglary, Demson Sachuo, 18, is scheduled to change his plea on May 28. The terms of the plea agreement are still under discussion.

Kereman was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, all suspended except for two years. Kereman was remanded back to the Department of Corrections on April 22 to serve his sentence and will be released in 2021.

Kereman was given credit for 13 days.

As part of the plea agreement, Kereman will be placed on supervised probation for five years immediately following his release.

Kereman is mandated to pay all court fees, probation fees, fines, and joint restitution of $1,333.25 with Sachuo to the victim of the burglary.

Kereman will also serve a total of 160 hours of community service, refrain from contacting the victim, write a letter of apology to the victim, cooperate and testify against Sachuo, and complete any counseling recommended by the Community Guidance Center.

Kereman will return to court for a review hearing on March 9, 2021, at 9am.

According to court information, police responded to a burglary in progress on Nov. 27, 2018, at 2:28am in Kagman 3, behind the CYC store.

Police identified the suspects as Kereman and Sachuo.

Kereman refused to give a statement to the police, but Sachuo allegedly admitted that it was his idea to break into a neighbor’s house.

During the preliminary hearing, it was learned that Kereman allegedly conspired with Sachuo to burglarize the neighboring home while two other suspects stayed back.

The two other suspects, however, allegedly warned Kereman and Sachuo when flashing lights were seen from a distance. The two other unnamed suspects weren’t charged.

Sachuo told police that he and Kereman took a backpack, a small lamp, and batteries from the house.

It was learned during the preliminary hearing that other stolen items included perfume, watches, and domino chips that have yet to be recovered.

The stolen items came out to a sum of $1,258, excluding repairs to the burglarized home.

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