UPCOMING MEETINGS!

Tuesday, May 20th, 11:45am – Hyatt Giovanni’s Restaurant
William Aila will speak to the Rotary Club of Saipan

Tuesday, May 20th, 5pm-6:30pm – Hawaii Bar & Grill, Garapan
Meet & greet for Jay and William to meet project supporters

Tuesday, May 20th, 7:15pm – American Memorial Park Auditorium
Presentation to Saipan Fisherman’s Association by Jay Nelson with special guest William Aila

Wednesday, May 21st, 7:00pm – John Gonzales Show, KSPN Channel 2
General introductions and project information the first half-hour followed by a call-in Q&A in the second half hour

Thursday, May 22nd, 7:00am – KZMI Radio Talk Show with Harry Blalock
General introductions and project information with Jay Nelson and special guest William Aila

Thursday, May 22nd, 6:00pm - American Memorial Park Auditorium
Presentation to general public by Jay Nelson with special guest William Aila

Jay Nelson
Director - Global Ocean Legacy for Pew Environment Group. Ocean Legacy originated as an outgrowth of work done by Pew in 2005–2006 to support the creation of a fully protected marine reserve in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Partners supporting Ocean Legacy include Pew, the Sandler Family Supporting Foundation, the Oak Foundation, and the Robertson Foundation. Inspired by this success, the Pew-managed Ocean Legacy project is dedicated to establishing, globally, over the next decade, at least three to five large, world-class, no-take marine reserves. Ocean Legacy marine reserves will provide ocean-scale ecosystem benefits and help conserve our global marine heritage.

William Aila
William is a long time harbormaster on the Waianae coast of Oahu and commercial fisherman. He is well-known as an advocate for indigenous Hawaiian rights works closely with the group Na Imi Pono. In 2006 he ran for Governor of Hawai'i in the Democratic primary. William was intimately involved in advocating for the protection of the NW Hawaiian Islands for Native Hawaiian cultural and religious reasons from the late 1990's through today. He remains active in decisions about the management of the NW Hawaiian Islands today. William is very familiar with fisheries management in the Pacific through his more than ten year’s service on various Wespac advisory panels.

Cheers,
Laurie

p..s. to those who knew of my temp phone situation, please be advised that I have my number back!

---
Laurie Peterka
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES
PMB 112 PPP Box 10,000, Saipan, MP 96950
Phone: (670) 256-2277
Mobile: (670) 483-7499
Email: laurie.peterka@saipan.com
Email: laurie.peterka@saipanagogo.com

Man in marriage fraud case arrested at airport

Friday January 25, 2008 By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff



A 37-year-old man who was about to leave Saipan was arrested for marriage fraud while checking in for a flight for Japan on Wednesday afternoon at the airport.

Mohammad Wahiduzzaman was arrested at 1:40 p.m. and was brought to the Superior Court yesterday afternoon before Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo for a bail hearing.

Govendo set a cash bail of $25,000.

Wahiduzzaman’s lawyer, Joey San Nicolas, requested for a bail modification hearing which the judge granted and the matter will be heard today at 3:30 p.m.

Wahiduzzaman was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.

He was ordered to stay away from Shanna Marie Kaipat and her friends.

According to the affidavit of immigration investigator Erwin Flores, he received information that Wahiduzzaman committed marriage fraud.

Any alien residing in the CNMI can obtain an immediate relative status if they marry a U.S. citizen. This allows them to remain here and apply for some jobs restricted to U.S. citizens for as long as their IR status is in effect.

Flores stated in his affidavit submitted to court that on Jan. 19, Kaipat informed him that she entered into a fixed marriage with Wahiduzzaman.

Kaipat said Wahiduzzaman told her that if she agreed to the marriage, he would pay her $10,000.

Kaipat and Wahiduzzaman married on Dec. 22, 2006 at the Saipan mayor’s office.

They were married by Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela.

Kaipat told investigator that they never lived together as husband and wife and continued to live in separate residences.

Kaipat said she received an initial payment of $4,000 from Wahiduzzaman, who submitted an application for his IR entry permit on Dec. 27, 2006.

011608 st - SEND THEM HOME

Tuesday January 15, 2008
Letters to the Editor
Saturday, January 12, 2008


Send them home


Dear American citizens of the CNMI:

I lived on Saipan and in Micronesia for nearly 10 years. I also lived in Costa Rica, Panama and Palau. I was a not a citizen of those countries and did not expect nor did I have the rights of citizens. The CNMI’s contract workers do not work under this basic assumption. They want more than they could ever get back home or what they agreed to when they came here freely. Contract workers will not stop with "federalization." Look at Hawaii-the natives have no real power and have been pushed out. If you don’t send them home now they will rule the CNMI in a short time. Bite the bullet and send them back to the country they came from or else expect to be second-class citizens in your own homeland.

William "Bamboo" McCue
Wellington, FL

URGENT MEETING

LETS TAKE A STAND

Workshop on acing that job interview

Why do some candidates who are highly qualified for some jobs fail to make it in the final selection process while average applicants get the job with ease? What are the key factors for success in job interviews?According to research, when it comes to job interviews, being prepared is more important than job knowledge, skills and experience! It’s your secret weapon to acing the interview and coming out on top! You will know how to emphasize those traits that would greatly impress the interviewer, such as:(1) Being enthusiastic. By being upbeat and having a positive attitude, you’ll show the interviewer within the first few seconds that you are a "can-do" person who will be an asset to their organization.(2) Being likeable. It sounds simplistic, but it’s a fact that is often overlooked... people want to work with (and hire) people they like.(3) Being determined. You have to make it clear that you want this job more than anything else.(4) Being informed. You need to know about the company and what they’ll expect you to do for them.To learn the secrets on how to pass job interviews, attend the seminar “The Winning Edge” scheduled on Dec. 16 at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, from 1pm to 6pm. The speakers are Anthony Pellegrino, who will discuss “How to Win Friends and be a Likable Person”; Bob Coldeen, “How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking”; Walt Goodridge, “How to Manage Your Time and be Productive”; and Christine Parke, “How to Answer Tricky Job Interview Questions and Write Winning Resumes.” Registration is only $5 per head inclusive of snacks, a raffle ticket and certificate of attendance. Get seminar tickets at 4R Internet Café in Garapan near LBC. The event is organized by Bisaya Global Network, CNMI-Power and supported by Komix Pinoy and Magic 100.3FM

st -LocalTuesday, November 20, 2007

Sugar Dock cleanup net bags of trash, big tire
Last Sunday Marianas Dive, Dive Saipan, Beautify CNMI! and MINA joined forces to clean up the Sugar Dock area, underwater and on adjoining beaches. Over 45 people participated; some stayed on shore to clean up the beaches, including at least one rusted-out and overflowing trash barrel, and certified divers went underwater to pick up cans, rusty grates, a huge truck tire, and other trash.Participating dive shops included Dive Saipan, Mariana Sports Club, Mermaid Saipan, Saipan Dive Resort, Lighthouse Saipan, Aqua Soul, Ka’lak Diving School, Aqua Del Rey, and Super Fish Diving.Those who joined the Sunday morning event had the satisfaction of cleaning up an important tourist dive spot, and many participants also won great prizes. Event organizers distributed prize golf balls, and the finders took home great gifts donated by Aqua Jet, Mike Tripp Productions, Dive Saipan, Guam Tropical Dive Station, Hamilton’s, Hardt Eye Clinic, PHI Pharmacy, PTI, Porky’s Beach Bar, and Speedy Tertle.As one diver noted, "Besides the original goal of doing something positive by cleaning up this popular area, I think everyone had a good time, enjoying the camaraderie, and the excitement of the scavenger hunt as a bonus.”This is the third in a series of underwater cleanups undertaken by these groups. Watch for more details about the next cleanup-the public is invited. For more information, contact Mike Tripp, president, Marianas Dive, 670-288-DIVE (3483) or scubatrip@mac.com. Marianas Dive is a growing group of individuals with a passion for everything underwater and specifically what Saipan Tinian & Rota have to offer as dive destinations. The group welcomes community members to join and help the CNMI build a truly world-class dive destination while promoting our excellent diving locally and globally. Members meet the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6:3pm. To join the email list, visit www.marianasdive.com. (PR)

Letter to the editor: Fitial will not be re-elected

Friday November 23, 2007

IT is time for the PEOPLE of the CNMI to “TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT” — it’s that simple and it’s common sense when you have been bamboozled, as we say in my culture. I have made many predictions about our economy and our government and guess what, in case you haven’t been keeping track — they have all come true.
But first, I would like for the governor to know I choose the title to get his attention and because I care about him and the CNMI and people with common sense know had I just sent this to him personally it wouldn’t have had ANY affect, which is the whole purpose of this exercise. Most professionals will view this for what it is — constructive criticism. It is not my intent to be disrespectful and the governor still has a chance to be re-elected but he MUST CHANGE and that’s the point that must be made clear.
First of all, we elected the wrong governor at the wrong time — it is really that simple. We needed him when we HAD money and this is not about him personally because he is a VERY GOOD man but his politics and ideologies are outdated as they clearly reflect an attitude and mentality of the Trust Territory days and we are in a NEW ERA over 30 years later — times, ideologies and people have all CHANGED. The CNMI had a good start but we now need to build some momentum to create real “synergy” to keep us going and growing — a force that our politicians seem to be totally ignorant about when it comes to politics. Synergy is the “unseen force” that allows two or more to achieve something that they are incapable of doing individually and we need leadership with the capacity to create synergy with the federal government — not enemies. Our government is like a car going up hill and running out of gas to get us over the top as we say in my culture — we will get federal help or be stranded figuratively.
What we need now more than anything is real synergy coming from the people to push our government over the hump and to recapture control of our government that is clearly taking us nowhere FAST. Federalization was the “wake up call” and its time for the people to answer the call of the federal government and not the local government that has clearly messed up. The people never established a collective stance on federalization and neither did our government and the Legislature has pretty much left it up to the governor, which is obviously politics to place all the accountability on the governor. There has never been a legitimate attempt by our government to find out just what the people wanted and marching orders have NEVER been given directly to the government for laws & reforms directly from the PEOPLE in the history of the CNMI — well, that time is at HAND!
The PEOPLE must put an end to being “lied” to by our executive first and foremost. The previous administration tried to sell us a “darn good” economy and now this administration sold us “better times & no surcharge” that have truly turned out to be BiTTer Times & Higher Rates and everyone knows this even those who don’t have common sense.
There won’t be another lie told by the next governor if the PEOPLE will support the efforts of concerned citizens like Vince Cabrera, Greg Cruz, Johannes, Jeff Torres and the many people that are passing the Mandate Petition and those who are signing the petition — yes, I’m just the “tip” of the spear for change and its about the PEOPLE and our government not me so stop trying to kill the messenger and get the message.
The recent attacks on Mr. Cohen and Mr. Benedetto sent a clear message to the federal government and the people that our governor IS NOT going to work collaboratively with the federal government. Mr. Cohen & Mr. Benedetto are standing between his administration and 450 MILLION DOLLARS for the CNMI. Yet our governor gives the appearance of a person slapping the face of the very people who are here to help.
This money can help the people and the people won’t easily forget that Governor Fitial is keeping it from helping us when we need it most by not cooperating with the feds. He is making it hard on himself and making the SAME mistakes that the Froilan Tenorio administration made and we all know what happened to him — so it is easy to predict he will not be re-elected based on this phenomenon alone. We hired him to “fix our economy” not to fight with federal officials and I’m sure the average citizen will agree. He is doing a good job as a “business man” in control of the money but he is doing a horrific job with the politics of the CNMI and his office.
The governor can still be re-elected but he is going to have to get with the program of the feds and the PEOPLE or he is going to be a big loser in 2009.
I pray this will encourage the governor to change and take us in a NEW DIRECTION.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan