Around the Islands

The plaque reads as follows: “We would like to give our sincerest appreciation to you, who have put passion and truth into the CNMI as well as all of the communities. Especially, your love and interest in the Korean Society, as well as your support and contributions will be greatly remembered by the Korean Community. As stated, the Korean Community and the executives of the Korean Association of the CNMI would like to give this plaque as our love and thanks to you.”

The plaque of appreciation was presented by president Park Jun Soo of the 31st Korean Association of Saipan.

“I am greatly honored to receive this plaque of appreciation from the Saipan Korean Association,” said Fitial. “The members of the CNMI Korean community have made many great contributions to our islands for more than 30 years, and I am very grateful for the Korean community’s appreciation of our islands.”

OPA: Government officials, employees may not solicit gifts or gratuities

(OPA) — The CNMI Office of the Public Auditor would like to remind everyone that 1CMC § 8551 of the CNMI Government Ethics Code states:

A public official or public employee, or a member of the immediate family or a business associate of a public official or public employee, shall not solicit or accept anything of value, or the promise or offer of anything of value, from:

(1) A person regulated by or providing goods or services to, the government entity that the public official or public employee serves;

(2) A person who has offered, or expressed an intention to provide travel expenses, goods or services to any member of a government entity that the public official or public employee serves; or

(3) A person who was regulated by, or provided goods and services to, the government entity that the public official or public employee serves when circumstances show that the thing of value was promised or offered to or received between the person and the government entity.

Who is covered under this provision?

(1) Public Official(s): any person holding any elected office of the Commonwealth or any appointed, nonemployee member of the commonwealth government, including members of boards, commissions, and task forces;

(2) Public Employee(s): any individual who is an appointed employee of the commonwealth government, whether part-time or full-time;

(3) Immediate Family: a spouse, an unemancipated child residing in the same household, or an individual claimed as a dependent; and

(4) Business Associate(s) of a Public Official or Public Employee.

Examples of Prohibited Actions:

• A nonprofit organization, acting on behalf of a government entity, soliciting something of value from a business that is regulated by or does business with that entity.

• Sponsorship of a government entity sports team by a business that is regulated by or does business with that entity.

For more information, or to report a possible violation, please contact the Office of the Public Auditor at 322-6481/2, or the OPA Hotline at 322-3936.

Puengin Inetnon on Friday

PUENGIN Inetnon will be held again on Feb. 13 in the Kagman Community Center’s parking lot.

Puengin Inetnon is Kagman’s Friday Night Market that will take place every government payday.

It will begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 10 p.m.

There will vendors selling food, drinks, snacks, clothing, and crafts.

Puengin Inetnon is a family-oriented event. Alcohol will be prohibited from the event.

All are welcome.

Interested vendors can call the Kagman Post Office at 256-POST for applications.

Kagman Saturday Flea Market

ABE ORIENTATION. CNMI Probation Office Director Ursula Lifoifoi-Aldan speaks before students of Northern Marianas College’s Adult Basic Education  Program at an orientation held last week. Lifoifoi-Aldan, a GED graduate and also keynote speaker for the evening, offered words of inspiration as she outlined her life’s many milestones, which, she remarks, “would not have been possible without [her] GED.” The program’s enrollment recorded an all-time high, with 147 students in the Spring 2009 semester. Contributed photo

CLEANUP KITS. The local chapter of the American Red Cross recently donated 400 cleanup kits to the Public School System and the private schools to be used in the beautification and maintenance of their campuses.   The kits included mops, brooms, scrubs, and buckets among other items.  from left: J.D. Tenorio, Red Cross emergency services director; Lucy Blanco-Maratita, Board of Education chairwoman; John Hirsh, executive director of the Red Cross; Kinai Salas, San Vicente Elementary School principal; Charlie Kenty, PSS acting associate commissioner for administrative services and human resources officer; Rita A. Sablan, education commissioner; Herman Guerrero, BOE vice chairman; and Alkantro Sarapio, PSS property and inventory control officer. Contributed photo 

FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE. Board of Education member Mt. Carmel School principal Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero receives a gift from one of Japan’s Awaji High School  students who visited Saipan recently. Contributed photo