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PaganWatch
Welcome to the web site of the grassroots movement to protect the beautiful island of Pagan and its indigenous community. PaganWatch is a watchdog group made up of people from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), Guam, Hawaii and the US Mainland who have taken a stand against those who would severely harm the land and waters of Pagan and rob the CNMI's indigenous community of many millions in mining revenues.
PaganWatch came to be in 2003 as a direct response to attempts by the Marianas Public Lands Authority (MPLA) to allow the mining of pozzolan and basalt from Pagan without the participation and consent of the indigenous people of the CNMI who are the owners of public land in the CNMI. PaganWatch members wrote letters and lobbied government leaders in the CNMI and Washington on behalf of indigenous people and the greater CNMI community, arguing that the government had a moral and legal obligation to recognize the right of the indigenous people to free, prior and informed consent in matters affecting their lands, territories and resources. Specifically, PaganWatch asked for the formation of a community task force on mining that would bring together the Federal and local agencies with jurisdiction over Pagan, together with representatives from government and community groups, to study the mining opportunity and set the conditions under which any mining would be conducted. These conditions would include safeguards for the environment, fair and equitable royalties to the CNMI, and protection of the rights and interests of the Pagan community.
The fight for a mining task force was long and difficult. In 2004, PaganWatch gained the support of then Speaker of the House Benigno R. Fitial, who authored a bill to freeze mining on Pagan and the issuance of any permits until a mining task force was created to study the opportunity. The bill passed the House by unanimous vote, but then Senate President Adriano shelved the bill in the Senate. He did this even after PaganWatch presented him with a petition signed by over 600 CNMI citizens including virtually the entire Pagan community asking the Senate to support the bill. A year later, after a prolonged and heated public fight to block a permit issuance to Azmar International, PaganWatch members succeeded in exposing the company's lack of financial credibility as well as plans to steal historic artifacts from Pagan. When MPLA continued to entertain Azmar's mining permit request, PaganWatch attorney used the Open Government Act to gain access to MPLA documents relating to mining. Soon afterwards, MPLA finally denied the Azmar permit request and agreed to form the community task force. However, MPLA never took action to establish the task force. But a year later, after numerous revelations of high-level corruption at MPLA, the agency was dissolved by newly elected Governor Fitial and replaced by a new Department of Public Lands. The Governor then created the Pagan Mining Task Force by Executive Order.
The Governor's Pagan Mining Task Force brings together all the regulator agencies with jurisdiction over Pagan as well as legislators, community groups and other stakeholders in Pagan's future. The task force is charged with producing a Request for Proposal (RFP) under which all interested investors can bid for the mining project. It was given just 60 days to produce the RFP.
Because of corruption within MPLA, the terms of a Pagan mining permit issued in 1995 to JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. were not enforced. The new Department of Public Lands acted quickly to investigate and in early May, 2006 terminated the permit due to numerous breaches of the permit terms. Among the serious breaches was the formation of a partnership with a Southern California real estate company, Bridgecreek Development to mine Pagan.
JG Sablan and Bridgecreek lobbied CNMI legislators in the Senate for support in negating the action of the Department of Public Lands to terminated JG Sablan's 1995 permit. Their lobbying effort was successful and a Senate bill was passed that would reinstated the 1995 permit. However, the bill cannot become law without the signature of the Governor who is unlikely to sign it. Among the serious problems with the bill is the fact that it violates the "separation of powers" doctrine of US and CNMI law. The CNMI Congress has no jurisdiction over the Department of Public Lands since it is part of the Executive Branch of government by virtue of the CNMI Constitution. But perhaps more importantly, the bill would again deprive the indigenous people of their right to free, prior and informed consent in matters affecting their land. It also negates the government's rights in regards to a legally binding contract by only recognizing the rights of the other party, JG Sablan.
Are you of Northern Marianas descent? If so, the land and resources of Pagan belong to you as an indigenous person as guaranteed by the Covenant Agreement that formed the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. You can and should join PaganWatch in demanding that your right to participate in the decisions over your island and your resources are protected. Are you a CNMI citizen? If so, you can and should object to the squandering of an opportunity that can improve the lives of everyone in the CNMI. Are you a Chamorro from Guam? If so then Pagan is part of your cultural and historic ancestral lands and you should fight to keep Pagan from being destroyed through careless management and exploitation. Are you a friend of the land and sea of the Marianas? If so, please help us to protect this beautiful island and the surrounding waters. Are you a fisherman in the area? If so you should do something to stop this threat of pollution in the Northern Islands fishing grounds. We all have a common interest in protecting the island of Pagan.
Please help to protect Pagan from careless and irresponsible exploitation. Add your name to the PaganWatch email notification list. We'll send you the latest information and developments by email. (your email address will not be shared and will not be visible to other recipients and you can add or remove your email address at any time.)
Latest News
- October 30, 2007 - CNMI Blogger: People of the NMI deserve the best
- -
Click here for the letter to the Editor from Cinta Kaipat & Pete
Perez of PaganWatch on JG Sablan which was published in 2006...
- October 30, 2007 - CNMI Blogger: Excerpt of Congresswoman
Kaipat's Privilege Speech In Opposition to Veto Override To Re-instate
JG Sablan's Mining Permit...
- October 26, 2007 - Saipan Tribune (Letter to the Editor):
A waste of taxpayers' dollars? - - Messrs. Dr. Arkle and Don
Farrell, your points are well taken. However, we need to hear from
the horse's mouth: the government agency responsible for the pozzolan
project fiasco. Taxpayers' money was spent in the hundreds of thousands
of dollars-was this a total waste of taxpayers' money? Let's talk more
about it so that we can all be more enlightened...!
- October 24, 2007 - Saipan Tribune (Letter to the Editor):
'Got ground-penetrating radar?' - - The recent pre-election
letters to the editor by Mr. Thomas Arkle and his friend Don Farrell
needs a response for the sake of those who don't already know the
history of these two Azmar employees...
- October 23, 2007 - Saipan Tribune (Letter to the Editor):
The one who killed the pozzolan - - Tom Arkle was too kind in
reminding former senator Demapan why the Pagan pozzolan deposit was
wasted. He should remember how Anna Demapan Castro hid vital documents
from the rest of her MPLA board, causing them to cast a negative vote
for Azmar's permit application. But the person most responsible for
killing the CNMI's opportunity to harvest the pozzolan deposit on
Pagan was Cinta Kaipat. She made killing any effort to market the
pozzolan on Pagan her campaign issue in the last election. She
wanted more studies and an RFP before anything could happen...
- October 22, 2007 - CNMI Blogger: Bitter Azmar Officials
Talking Out of 2 Sides of Their Mouths As Usual - - There
continues to be efforts by bitter old men intent on exacting revenge,
and even going so far as to mislead the public, if they thought this
would accomplish their goal. They must think the public has a short
memory or that the people are dumb and stupid...
- October 19, 2007 - Marianas Variety (Forum): Too Kind - -
TOM Arkle was too kind in his manner of reminding former Senator
Demapan why the Pagan pozzolan deposit was wasted. Mr. Demapan, of all
people, should remember how Anna Demapan Castro hid vital documents
from the rest of her MPLA board members, causing them to cast a
negative vote for Azmar’s permit application. She was too busy
traveling and trying to take control of indigenous rights to pay
attention to economic development issues...
- October 19, 2007 - Saipan Tribune (Letter to the Editor):
Mr. Demapan's Pozzolan - - Sir, I am happy that you brought this
issue up. As you, and many others may remember, I wrote many letters
during 2004 and 2005 on the pozzolan issue-favoring its removal and
sale by an investment company specifically formed, capitalized and ready
to move with the best experts in the world. All of that was for naught
as it was fought vigorously by those who felt, as you stated, that
"billions" would fall into the coffers of the CNMI if only the "right"
company would just beg the CNMI to let them do it. You simply cannot
fight emotionalism with science...
- October 18, 2007 - Marianas Variety (Forum): Mr. Demapan's
Pozzolan - - SIR, I am happy that you brought this issue
up. As you, and many others may remember, I wrote many letters
during 2004 and 2005 on the pozzolan issue-favoring its removal
and sale by an investment company specifically formed, capitalized
and ready to move with the best experts in the world. All of that
was for naught as it was fought vigorously by those who felt, as
you stated, that "billions" would fall into the coffers of the
CNMI if only the "right" company would just beg the CNMI to let
them do it...
- October 18, 2007 - Saipan Tribune (Letter to the Editor):
Whatever happened to Pagan pozzolan? - - WHAT ever happened to
the pozzolan project on Pagan that was supposed to generate not millions
but billions of dollars into our CNMI coffers? Can our people be provided
with its status, if any, as of this time...?
- October 16, 2007 - Marianas Variety: Whatever happened
to Pagan pozzolan? - - WHAT ever happened to the pozzolan
project on Pagan that was supposed to generate not millions but
billions of dollars into our CNMI coffers? Can our people be provided
with its status, if any, as of this time...?
- October 05, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: Wiseman:
DPL gave JG Sablan due process - - The Superior Court has
ruled that the Department of Public Lands afforded JG Sablan Rock
Quarry Inc. sufficient due process before revoking the company's
permit to mine pozzolan and basalt on the northern island of
Pagan...
- October 05, 2007 - Marianas Variety: Judge affirms
revocation of JG's mining permit - - SUPERIOR Court Associate
Judge David A. Wiseman ruled yesterday that the Department of Public
Lands' decision to terminate the mining permit of JG Sablan Rock &
Quarry in 2006 was within the mandates of the law contrary to the
firm's claim that it was deprived of due process...
- June 21, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: Moves afoot to
stir interest in Pagan pozzolan - - The Department of Public
Lands is creating moves to stir interest in Pagan's pozzolan.
DPL Secretary John S. Del Rosario Jr. announced yesterday that the
two-part report on Pagan is now available on the department's
website: www.dpl.gov.mp/new/pagan...
- June 12, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: JG Sablan
'pleased' with court decision - - JG Sablan Rock Quarry
believes the court's ruling should allow the company to start mining
operations on Pagan. Michael Dotts, attorney for JG Sablan, said he
was pleased with Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman's
decision to uphold certain portions of Public Law 15-21...
- June 11, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: 'Law reinstating
JG Sablan's Pagan permit unconstitutional' - - Superior Court
judge David Wiseman on Friday ruled as unconstitutional legislation
reinstating and validating the 1995 permit issued to JG Sablan to
conduct mining operations on Pagan...
- June 08, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: 'Asia a viable
market for Pagan's pozzolan' - - A mining expert hired by the
Department of Public Lands says Pagan's pozzolan has a potential
market in Asia...
- June 06, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Pagan pozzolan: Only
12M metric tons of it - - Only about 12 million metric tons of
pozzolan remain available on Pagan, according to a mining expert
working for the Department of Public Lands. This estimate by DPL
consultant John W. Wilson is much lower than previous estimates
regarding the quantity of pozzolan on Pagan, which ranged between
32 million and 200 million metric tons...
- May 15, 2007 - Marianas Variety: Youth senators reject
resolution on pozzolan issue - - MEMBERS of the Youth Congress
on Saturday voted 5 to 8 against a resolution expressing support for
the reinstatement of JG Sablan Quarry’s mining permit. Even the author
of the resolution voted against it. Two members abstained
...
- May 07, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: DPL: Let courts decide
on JG Sablan - - The Department of Public Lands says the
Legislature should let the court resolve the question over the mining
rights of JG Sablan Rock Quarry...
- May 06, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Senate joins push for
JG Sablan mining plan - - The Upper House has thrown its support
behind a renewed call to reinstate a mining company's rights to extract
pozzolan from Pagan...
- May 02, 2007 - PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT: CNMI LEGISLATORS
URGE GOVERNOR TO RENEW MINER'S PERMIT - - SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas
Variety, May 2) - The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands House
of Representatives and the Senate have adopted a resolution urging Gov.
Benigno R. Fitial to withdraw an administration’s lawsuit that challenges
the law reinstating the Pagan mining permit of JG Sablan Rock Quarry
...
- May 02, 2007 - GLEND558 Trivia, Tidbits and Thoughts in
the Mid-Pacific: PAGAN VOLCANO - - WHY ARE WE PLAYING STUPID GAMES
WITH THIS? Isn't the economy at a point, you would think, to stop playing
silly games and get down to business of making some money, a bit of
income for this sorry government...
- April 20, 2007 - Pertambangan (Mining and Drilling Industry
News): JG Sablan mining bid pressed - - The House of Representatives
has renewed its support for a joint venture company seeking to extract
pozzolan from Pagan...
- April 18, 2007 - Mining Exploration News: House presses JG
Sablan mining bid - - The House of Representatives has renewed its
support for a joint venture company seeking to extract pozzolan from Pagan
...
- March 21, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Team flies to Pagan
for drilling operation - - The Department of Public Lands
yesterday sent a team to Pagan as part of efforts to quantify the
pozzolan deposits available in the northern island. The team, led
by DPL consultant John W. Wilson, will drill at 25 to 30 locations
to collect samples, which will be tested at the National Taipei
University of Technology...
- March 20, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Letter to the
Editor: Here we go again - - The cash-strapped CNMI government
has hired a consultant, the gentleman Mr. Wilson, who is a mining
expert for coal and gold mines, to check the amount and quality of
available pozzolan, its marketability, transporting, shipping, etc.
on Pagan. This pozzolan is supposedly only found in a few locations
around the world. Mr. Wilson will be the one to check out the
deposits on Pagan and the cost of quarrying this product and how to
do it...
- March 16, 2007 - Saipan Tribune: Local: Consultant hired
for Pagan's pozzolan - - The Department of Public Lands has hired
a consultant for $154,000 to help with the Pagan pozzolan project...
- March 16, 2007 - Marianas Variety: Administration hires
mining consultant for $150,000 - - THE cash-strapped government
hired a mining consultant for $150,000 in preparation for its plan to
sell Pagan's volcanic ash
- March 15, 2007 - Pacific Magazine: CNMI Public Lands Department
Hires Mining Expert - - A mining industry consultant with 48 years
of experience has been hired by the Department of Public Lands (DPL) to
determine the economic potential of pozzolan deposits on Pagan, an island
about 300 miles north of Saipan...
- February 20, 2007 - Marianas Variety: Pozzolan dispute
may drag on - - THE lawyer for JG Sablan Rock & Quarry, which
was issued the permit to mine pozzolan in Pagan, believes that the
dispute between his client and the government is not nearing an end
based on the status of the case...
- December 07, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: JG Sablan's
request a 'waste of time - - (IN JG SABLAN, DPL DISPUTE OVER
POZZOLAN PERMIT) The Superior Court has denied JG Sablan Rock Quarry
Inc.'s motion to remove portions of the arguments filed by the
Department of Public Lands in connection with their dispute over
the permit to mine pozzolan. Associate Judge David A. Wiseman ruled
that motions to strike are disfavored because they are generally a
waste of time and a distraction rather than a genuine perfecting
device...
- November 21, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Seeking
balanced information on the pozzolan issue - - DO we
have some more broadly informed, open-minded people to provide
balanced information regarding the pozzolan mining issue? It seems
that the people of the CNMI need to hear details of all aspects of
the debate in order to understand each position. We read about the
real risks and concerns of businesses that want to undertake the
mining project. But I also see a fair amount of personal attack
in the papers...
- November 21, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Seeking balanced
information on pozzolan issue - - Do we have some more
broadly-informed, open-minded people to provide balanced information
regarding the pozzolan mining issue? It seems that the people of the
CNMI need to hear details of all aspects of the debate in order to
understand each position. We read about the real risks and concerns
of businesses that want to undertake the mining project. But I also
see a fair amount of personal attack in the papers...
- September 06, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Help us
understand your logic better - - MR. Barker, thank you for
the opportunity to be my pen pal on this issue. I appreciate the
fact that you helped prove my point although you did not realize
it through your own writing. Please allow me to elaborate...
- September 04, 2006 - Marianas Variety: JG Sablan
files complaint against DPL - - JG SABLAN Rock and Quarry
Inc. on Friday filed a complaint against the Department of Public
Lands for violating the Administrative Procedures Act when it
terminated its permit without going through the legal process...
- August 31, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Draw the line
- - MR. Denton Joe Pangelinan, you claim I do not know
all the facts on this issue. Well, I have been to Pagan, I have
read a file cabinet of detailed papers on the island of Pagan
and mining project. I have been witness to the never relenting
effort made by Mr. John T. Sablan over the years to get this project
moving forward. But you are right about Cinta M. Kaipat, I do not know
the congresswomen...
- August 30, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Fine line - -
THIS is in response to Mr. Bruce Barker?s letter to the editor
regarding Congresswoman Cinta Kaipat and the way that she is dealing
with JG Sablan and pozzolan. It looks like Mr. Barker does not know
our representative for him to level an attack the way he did...
- August 28, 2006 - Marianas Variety: JG Sablan has
already spent $7M on pozzolan project - - AFTER spending
$7 million on the Pagan pozzolan project, JG Sablan?s Rock & Quarry
president John T. Sablan says he won?t give up even if it takes a
little longer to implement it. "I have been working on this project
since 1995 and I spent almost $7 million on ships, barges, cranes,
a helicopter and other equipment to see that this will move forward.
There?s no way I will give up on this," Sablan said in an interview...
- August 25, 2006 - PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT:
DEVELOPER DEFENDS CNMI VOLCANIC ASH DEAL - - SAIPAN,
CNMI (Marianas Variety, August 25) -- The chief executive officer
of [California-based] Bridgecreek International Corp. says the
Department of Public Lands’ information about pozzolan is "greatly
exaggerated." John G. Carlson, the Los Angeles-based partner of
JG Sablan Rock & Quarry, yesterday said that the pozzolan's value
and demand as presented by the government did not consider many
important aspects of the business...
- August 25, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: JG Sablan ally
seeks to dispel pozzolan 'myths' - - Common beliefs about
the value and demand of pozzolan, as well as the profits that
could be reaped from extracting and selling this construction
material, are greatly exaggerated, according to the business
partner of JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc...
- August 25, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum:
Bridgecreek CEO: Value, demand of pozzolan 'greatly exaggerated'
- - THE chief executive officer of Bridgecreek
International Corp. says the Department of Public Lands’
information about pozzolan is 'greatly exaggerated.' John G.
Carlson, the Los Angeles-based partner of JG Sablan Rock & Quarry,
yesterday said that the pozzolan’s value and demand as presented
by the government did not consider many important aspects of the
business. Carlson arrived on island Tuesday...
- August 25, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum:
Personal thoughts on the Pagan mining issue - -
THIS is in response to Mr. Peter J. Perez’s recent letter to
the editor. For starters, I think Mr. Perez should come to
terms with the fact that not everyone shares his views on the
Pagan issue. As a member of the Pagan Mining Task Force, Mr.
Perez from the start should be fully aware that the actions
taken by this group would be under strict public scrutiny,
meaning public criticisms are inevitable...
- August 25, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: More
hogwash - - I have to give you credit Mr. Perez! You,
the governor and your fellow Pagan Watch member Rep. Cinta M.
Kaipat are both determined to foil JG Sablan’s effort at mining
pozzolan on Pagan. I must say you’re all great at Monday night
quarterbacking. You have great insight on how you would have
called the shots if you were running the show. I have seen couch
potatoes laying there, with a self-righteous ability on what
he/she would have done after the fact...
- August 25, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum:
Bleak state of the NMI - - WITH the state of the
commonwealth being bleak, I think that all the political
infighting is something that citizens of the CNMI really want
to see less of...
- August 22, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Letters to
the Editor: Representing special interests - - This is
in response to Sen. Maria "Frica" Pangelinan's recent letter in
the Opinion section. She discusses her support of JG Sablan's
request for reinstatement of his permit to mine on Pagan
in terms of the broader implications for future investment by
outside interests. She asks two questions, one new and one very
old, which both deserve a thoughtful response...
- August 22, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Letters to
the Editor: "Hogwash" by Bruce Baker of Fruitland, Idaho; and
"Representing special interest" by Pete J. Pangelinan Perez of
PaganWatch (in .PDF format)
Hogwash: "THlS is about Cinta M. Kaipat's letter on JG
SablanIPagan dated Aug 18. I would say "Representative Kaipat,"
but I feel the only people she represents is herself and those
pulling her strings, and of course Pagan Watch. What is the
membership of Pagan Watch, four? Kaipat, you are great at
attacking JG Sablan and its efforts to mine pozzolan..."
Representing special interests: "THlS is in response to Sen.
Maria "Frica" Pangelinan's recent letter in the press. Shediscusses
her support for JG Sablan's request for reinstatement of his permit
to mine on Pagan in terms of the broader implications for future
investment by outside interests. She asks two questions, one new
and one very old, which both deserve a thoughtful response."
- August 18, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Opinion:
Taisakan's conflicting positions on JG Sablan permit - -
Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan wrote a lengthy letter
that appeared in bothpapers last week. To those who are not familiar
with the Pagan mining issue, the letter looks to be a fairly straight
forwardstatement of support for the JG Sablan/Bridgecreek joint venture
that seeks to mine Pagan under the terms of a decade-old permit
that was terminated by the Department of Public Lands...
- August 18, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Opinion: Pagan
mining: Why now? - - Permit me to answer Sen. Maria Frica
Pangelinan's concerns in her letter to the editor dated Aug. 14.
I do understand that the island way is to give a person a chance,
in this case Mr. Sablan, who is attempting to resurrect his permit
to mine pozzolan since 1995. And most of us know that coming from
a powerful family interlocked through marriage and bloodlines, Mr.
Sablan depends on this familial connection. It was a wonderful way
to run a village when doors went unlocked, bullcarts ruled and
everyone knew their neighbor...
- August 18, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: Anti-business
- - THE governor and the AGO need to lay off JG Sablan because
they are sending an anti-business message to other companies. Other
companies would be discouraged to do business in the Chamorro islands
if they find out about this. No company would want to invest heavily like
John T. Sablan has and later find out that the government would turn
its back on them and give them a hard time on running its business.
The government needs to lay off businesses and let them run themselves...
- August 18, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: On Mayor
Taisakan's conflicting positions on the JG Sablan permit - -
NORTHERN Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan wrote a lengthy letter
that appeared in both papers last week. To those who are not familiar
with the Pagan mining issue, the letter looks to be a fairly straight
forward statement of support for the JG Sablan/Bridgecreek joint
venture that seeks to mine Pagan under the terms of a decade-old
permit that was terminated by the Department of Public Lands...
- August 17, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Azmar Intl still in
the ballgame - - An Arizona-based company that has applied
for a Pagan mining permit since 2003 is still interested in the
pozzolan project. Azmar International, through attorney Stephen J.
Nutting, recently wrote the Department of Public Lands to express
its interest in participating in a competitive bidding process for
the Pagan mining project...
- August 16, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Mendiola: I
thought the governor was 'anti-litigation' - - THE legislator
who authored the bill to reinstate the Pagan mining permit of a local
businessman says he is puzzled by the administration's decision to
bring the issue to court after Gov. Benigno R. Fitial stated that he
is "anti-litigation and pro-negotiation." "I was hoping that the
governor would uphold his stance of making compromises instead of
litigation. I was surprised (by the complaint they filed)," Senate
Floor Leader Felix T. Mendiola told reporters yesterday afternoon...
- August 16, 2006 - Marianas Variety: JG Sablan's lawyer
'confused' by complaint filed by administration - - JG Sablan
Rock Quarry Inc.’s lead lawyer is confused by the case filed by the
administration against the company on Friday. "I am perplexed by
the case that has been filed. It would seem that Department of Public
Lands Secretary John Del Rosario does not want to give the Legislature
a chance to respond because the legislature was not made a party,"
said Michael Dotts...
- August 16, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: JG Sablan suit
'misdirected' - - The lawsuit filed by the administration
against JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. is misdirected and inconsistent
with the governor's policy of compromise, according to the author of
the law that reinstated JG Sablan's mining permit. Sen. Felix
Mendiola yesterday said he was surprised that the CNMI government
had sued JG Sablan over the reinstatement of the company's permit to
mine pozzolan from Pagan island...
- August 15, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Lawsuit should not
have been filed vs JG Sablan - - THE lawsuit the administration
filed on Friday should not have been brought against JG Sablan Rock
Quarry Inc. as it deals with a constitutional issue, according to the
company's CEO. John T. Sablan said he was surprised that he was named
respondent by the complaint filed in Superior Court...
- August 14, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Opinion: Investing in
our Commonwealth - - I disagree with the current administration
on the subject of JG Sablan's mining permit. My concerns are, however,
not only about the specific issue. There are larger implications...
- August 09, 2006 - Marianas Variety: N. Islands mayor
reiterates support for JG Sablan's mining project - - NORTHERN
Islands Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan wants Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to
reassess his position on JG Sablan's Pagan mining permit. Taisakan
noted the CNMI's present economic situation and "the unfortunate chain
of events...not consistent with the administration's promises of
‘Better Times,'" -- the doubling of the power rates, business closures
and lack of new investments...
- August 09, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Let JG Sablan get on
with its pozzolan project - - The recent events surrounding the
Pagan pozzolan extraction project by JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. need
to be explained in a fairer and more balanced perspective. At the outset,
however, I want to note that I fully support the Legislature's override
of Senate Bill 15-45 which I am confident will be instrumental in
helping alleviate and ease the CNMI's dire financial conditions...
- August 04, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Sablan wants to help
governor - - JG Sablan's CEO says he respects Gov. Benigno R.
Fitial's decision to seek court intervention in the controversy over
his company's Pagan mining permit, adding that he still supports the
administration’s efforts to improve the local economy...
- August 04, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Are the people on
dope? - - As the governor continues his quest to resolve our
energy problem, one tends to ask the question: Why does he condone
CUC practices? CUC keeps hiring consultants to tell them what is wrong
with CUC. They paid an off-island company to advise them as to the
rates for electrical service based on costs. A simple break-even
analysis. A simple problem for a second-year business student. Of
course, I must now assume that CUC does not have the qualified person
on staff that could do the analysis. Why not? Maybe government business
by family and friends just does not work...
- July 31, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Admin: JG Sablan dispute
not over yet - - The dispute over the validity of JG Sablan Rock
Quarry's Pagan mining permit does not necessarily end with the
Legislature's veto override on the bill reinstating the JG permit,
according to the spokesperson of the Fitial administration...
- July 29, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Legislature overrides
Fitial veto - - The Legislature yesterday overrode the governor's
veto of two separate reinstating the mining permit of JG Sablan Rock
Quarry and capping government liability in tort claims...
- July 27, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: JG Sablan: Lawsuit will be
last resort - - JG Sablan Rock Quarry yesterday maintained that a
court battle would be the last resort in its bid to keep its Pagan mining
permit...
- July 26, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Governor vetoes JG Sablan
bill - - Gov. Benigno R. Fitial vetoed Senate Bill 15-45 Monday
afternoon. The bill proposed to validate the mining permit of JG Sablan
Quarry, Inc., a company previously authorized to mine pozzolan on the
island of Pagan...
- July 25, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Clock winds down on Sablan
Pagan permit - - Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has until today to act on
the bill that would reinstate JG Sablan Rock Quarry's permit to mine
Pagan pozzolan...
- July 19, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Fitial has one week to act
on JG Sablan bill - - Senate President Joseph Mendiola yesterday
expressed hope that the governor would sign the bill to reinstate JG Sablan
Rock Quarry's mining permit, within the one week he has left to act on
the bill...
- July 17, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Fitial wants to meet with
Senate on Pagan bill - - Before making an action of either vetoing
or approving it, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial wants to meet with senators first
to discuss their authored bill which seeks to grandfather a local firm to
mine minerals on Pagan...
- July 17, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Letter to the Editor: Missed
opportunity - - JUST THINK, If the governor had not interfered with
the J.G. Sablan permit in January, the Pagan mining operations would now
be within a month or two from putting hundreds of thousands of dollars
into the government's treasury in royalty payments and the government's
credit position would have been enhanced...
- May 19, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Letter to the Editor: A
esponse to Sen. Reyes - - This is in response to Sen. Pete Reyes'
recent letter to the editor regarding the Pagan mining issue...
- May 18, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Pagan task force begins
work - - Members of the Pagan mining task force met Tuesday afternoon
to commence work on drafting a bid for a permit to extract pozzolan from the
northern island...
- May 17, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: Character assassination
- - I RARELY write in response to letters to the editor, as I
understand that the public has every right to express their views. I
certainly respect this right and as an elected official I must value the
opinions of the constituents I serve. However, Mr. Peter J. Pangelinan
Perez’s May 11, 2006 letter to the editor cannot go without comment...
- May 12, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Senate reinstates JG Sablan
mining permit - - The Senate passed yesterday a bill reinstating
the 1995 mining permit of JG Sablan on Pagan. This came more than a week
after the Executive Branch terminated the permit due to alleged violations,
including the company's "unauthorized" partnership with Bridgecreek
International...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 12, 2006 -
Saipan Tribune - Senate reinstates JG Sablan mining permit: "dones/ It
seems that once again, everyone in the government is pulling in different
directions. Reading this piece, it appears that no one really knows much
about the circumstances under which J.G. Sablan's permit was pulled and
didn't bother to find out."
- May 11, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: Fiction vs reality
- - IN his May 4 "letter to the people of the CNMI," Bridgecreek’s
CEO John Carlson portrays his company and partner company JG Sablan Rock
Quarry Inc. as victims and would-be heroes of the CNMI people. He says he
is "dismayed and confused." According to Carlson, his company has lost
money and John Sablan has lost money and it’s all the government’s fault
...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 11, 2006 -
Marianas Variety - Fiction vs reality: "letter to the editor/peter j.
pangelinan perez/ Pagan Watch officer disputes various whining emanating
from John Sablan and prospective Pagan mining partner John Carlson over
Sablan's now defunct mining permit."
- May 04, 2006 - Pacific Magazine: - - Government Cancels
JG Sablan's Pozzolan Mining Contract - - The Northern Marianas government
on Wednesday terminated J.G. Sablan’s 1995 mining permit for numerous violations
and non-compliance of agreements between the company and the current Department
of Public Lands, formerly the Marianas Public Lands Authority...
- May 04, 2006 - Marianas Variety: - - THE Department of Public
Lands yesterday voided the Pagan mining permit of JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc.
on grounds that it violated the rules to the detriment of the cash-strapped
government...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 4, 2006 -
Marianas Variety - Public Lands voids JG's Pagan permit: "casas/deposa/
Department of Public Lands voids the Pagan mining permit of JG Sablan Rock
Quarry Inc. The governor creates a task force to actually figure out how
much pozzolan is there, while Sablan and partner Brideport consult their
attorneys."
- May 04, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Pagan mining permit terminated
- - The Fitial administration terminated yesterday the 1995 mining
permit issued to J.G. Sablan, citing various violations, including its recent
"unauthorized" partnership with Bridgecreek...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 4, 2006 -
Saipan Tribune - Pagan mining permit terminated: "sonwa/ If
appropriate, shed a tear for J.G. Sablan, but otherwise, forget it. Governor
Benigno Repeki Fitial pulls the plug on long non-producing mining permit and
forms a task force to figure out how to make some money for the CNMI from
this mining project."
- May 04, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: JG Sablan: Govt is mistaken
- - Saying he is still shocked over the news, businessman John T.
Sablan said the government is mistaken when it terminated his 1995 Pagan
mining permit...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 4, 2006 -
Saipan Tribune - JG Sablan: Govt is mistaken: "dones/ Businessman
John G. Sablan claims to be shocked that his longstanding mining permit
for Pagan pozzolan was pulled."
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
May 3, 2006- MCV
- Department of Public Lands finally ends J.G. Sablan's permit to mine
pozzolan on Pagan after some 10 years: "chau/ Secretary of PL John Del
Rosario says this will lead to an open bidding process which will start by
figuring out how much of the resource is actually there. There seems to be
regret about how investor Bridgecreek has been treated; Bridgecreek depended
on Sablan's permit for its entry."
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
April 10, 2006
- MCV - The Fresh Restaurant opens in Puerto Rico: "coldeen/ Owner
Kazukia (ph) Yamada. He is also the COO of Marianas Environment and
Development Inc. He says the firm which is under a Tokyo-based company,
has a 10 year, $200 million investment plan for the CNMI part of which
would include developing alternative fuel projects such as solar and
windpower. They're also interested in Pagan pozzolan mining."
- April 07, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Incidentally - - HOW
can the CNMI do a good job of bringing in new investors when the government
doesn’t even know how to treat well those who do come here? We are referring
to the complaint of BridgeCreek International whose CEO is now "surprised and
confused" over the mixed signals coming from the same "pro-business" CNMI
officials who, not too long ago, were assuring him of their "support...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
April 06, 2006
- Marianas Variety - Incidentally: "editorial/ BridgeCreek complaints
about its treatment by CNMI officials have some merit."
- April 05, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Pagan investor ‘surprised,
confused’ by gov’t meddling - - THE U.S. company that wants to invest
up to $12 million in pozzolan mining on Pagan is puzzled by administration
officials and lawmakers "meddling" with the project that is supposedly supported
by the CNMI government. John Carlson, the Los Angeles-based chief executive
officer of the BridgeCreek International Corp., yesterday said he is investing
in the CNMI because of the encouragement and support of local government
officials whom he met when he was on island two months ago...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
April 05, 2006
- Marianas Variety - Pagan investor 'surprised, confused' by gov't meddling:
"deposa/ Gosh! John Carlson, CEO of the BridgeCreek International
Corporation is all shocked that our legislators might have second thoughts
about his decision to pin his deal on John Sablan's ancient and unfulfilled
contract to mine pozzolan on Pagan. With of course, no bidding process."
- March 19, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Local: 'Mining biz better
left to private sector' - - To ensure efficiency, mining activities
are better left to the private sector, according to mining company JG Sablan.
Company president John Sablan said the government already faces too many
problems to get directly involved in the mining business...
- March 17, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: 'Govt will be shortchanged under
old mining permit' - - The Commonwealth would be shortchanged if the
government allowed a joint venture company to remove pozzolan from Pagan at a
fixed royalty rate set in 1995, according to PaganWatch...
- March 17, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: 'Let govt go into mining
business' - - The board chairman of the Commonwealth Development
Authority urged the government yesterday to be directly involved in the
mining and sale of mineral resources, particularly pozzolan, to reap optimal
benefits, rather than relegate this rare opportunity to a profit-oriented
middleman...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
March 17, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - 'Govt will be shortchanged under old mining permit':
"donato/ Pete Perez of PaganWatch says. He objects to government plan to go
with old permit to J.G. Sablan."
- March 10, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: House backs expedited mining
project - - The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution calling
for the expedited kickoff of the Pagan mining project by JG Sablan Rock Quarry
and Bridgecreek International Corp...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
March 07, 2006
- Marianas Variety - White elephant:"letter to the editor/bruce a. bateman/
Our prison, which appears to be unlikely to be locking up anyone, anytime soon.
His modest proposal is sort of familiar: Sending the convicts to Pagan."
- March 06, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: White Elephant - - Our
governor inherited what he rightly calls a white elephant; referring to the
new palatial mansion we call a prison. I'm sure the liberal set is ecstatically
happy that those convicted of various crimes will be comfy, have their TV remote
close at hand and their A/C blowing at full force; all at our expense...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
March 06, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - White elephant:"letter to the editor/bruce a. bateman/
Our new and unlikely to open soon prison. An alternative is the old moedest
proposal to exile prisoners to Pagan."
- Bruce Lloyd
Media:Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
March 03, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - To Rep. Cinta M. Kaipat:"letter to the editor/roman t.
tudela/ He goes to bat for the validity of JG Sablan's ten year old permit
for pozzolan mining on Pagan."
- March 3, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Some thoughts on mining
bill - - As a concerned voter and citizen of our Commonwealth,
I would like to share with you and the honorable members of the House
of Representative some of my thoughts on House Bill 15-56...
- March 3, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: To Rep. Cinta M.
Kaipat - - AS a concerned voter and citizen of our commonwealth,
I would like to share with you and the honorable members of the House of
Representative some of my thoughts on H.B. 15-56...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media:Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
March 2,
2006 - Marianas Variety - Unfair attack:"letter to the editor/denton joe
pangelinan/ He objects to Uncle Bernardo's attack on Representative Cinta
Kaipat."
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 28 2006
- Saipan Tribune - PaganWatch cautions vs donation promises:"donato/
"Watchdog" group is critical of Bridgecreek International Corporation effort
to piggy-back on J.G. Sablan's ancient and failed permit to mine Pagan pozzolan,
sans any serious government inquiry into what's going on there or a serious
government bid process. The whole thing reeks of quicky opportunism, in which
this fresh money source wants to hand a (relatively) few bucks to the schools
and sometime Northern Islands residents for the chance to make gazillions."
- February 28, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: PaganWatch cautions vs
donation promises - - A non-profit watchdog group said that lawmakers
should not be blinded by the donation offers of a joint venture company
seeking to extract pozzolan from Pagan...
- February 27, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Jamie R. Vergara - -
PaganWatch mentioned way down in the bottom of this very long opinion by
Mr. Vergara: "PaganWatch folks have made it clear that money consideration
must not be the only virtue to be considered in the mining of minerals in
the Commonwealth. It is a measure of our bottom line mystification that we
applaud the obvious...
- February 26, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: PaganWatch pushes passage
of mining bill - - PaganWatch has urged lawmakers to immediately pass
a bill that would create a Pagan mining task force and require all investors
to undergo a bid before they could extract pozzolan from the northern island
...
- February 24, 2006 - Marianas Variety: House minority bloc
urges governor to appoint credible public lands chief - - THE House
minority bloc is urging Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to choose a person with
integrity and credibility to lead the newly created Department of Public
Lands and prevent abuses related to public lands that have happened in the
past...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 26,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - PaganWatch pushes passage of mining bill:"donato/
Bill authored by freshman Representative Cinta Kaipatk would mandate a task
force investigation of Pagan pozzolan mining and a full bid process for the
right to do so."
- February 23, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Abolish MPLA with care
- - HOUSE Bill 15-57, which would abolish MPLA, is an appropriate
response to the serious breaches of public trust by the runaway board of
directors who consider themselves untouchable and answerable to no one...
- February 22, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: PaganWatch: JG Sablan
permit is 'void' - - Citing documents obtained from the Marianas
Public Lands Authority, PaganWatch insisted yesterday that the Pagan mining
permit issued to JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. had been voided by MPLA...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 22,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - PaganWatch: JG Sablan permit is 'void': "donato
/ PaganWatch actually managed to get some records out of chronic Open
Government scofflaw Marianas Public Lands Authority that they say suggest
MPLA already voided the permit on which the latest effor to mine Pagan
pozzolan is based."
- February 22, 2006 - Letter to the Editor: Abolish MPLA with
care - - House Bill No. 15-57, which would abolish MPLA, is an
appropriate response to the serious breaches of public trust by the runaway
board of directors...
- Bruce Lloyd Media
: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 22, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - Abolish MPLA with care: "letter to the editor/peter
j. pangelinan perez/ PaganWatch principal seems to have figured out that
since the Marianas Public Lands Authority has done such a persuasive job
of justifying its own abolition, there's not point in rushing things."
- February 21, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Azmar slams MPLA
- - THE spokesman for Azmar International Trading Co., a firm
that wants to mine pozzolan on Pagan, has rejected the claim of the
Marianas Public Lands Authority that it is willing to work with the
company if it decides to re-submit a permit application...
- February 20, 2006 - PaganWatch Comment on House Bill No. 15-56
- - The bill before you can change the lives of each and every person
living in the Commonwealth. It seeks to give back to the people what has been
denied them by an indifferent board of directors at the Marianas Public Lands
Authority - the opportunity to participate in the determination of the future
of Pagan, the Northern Marianas' fourth largest island...
- February 16, 2006 - Marianas Variety: To Rep. Cinta Kaipat
- - I WOULD like to inform you that I am very disappointed with
all the articles that you have been writing about JG Sablan, Bridgecreek
and especially the owner of JG Sablan, John T. Sablan. The worst was your
recent letter to the editor to Marianas Variety. You said so many things
that are very unprofessional and are not true...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 16,
2006 - Marianas Variety - To Rep. Cinta Kaipat: "letter to the editor
/bernardo r. cruz/ A defender of John G. Sablan."
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 10,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - Bridgecreek: New mining bill won't apply to us:
"donato/ So says John Carlson of Bridgecreek International Corporation.
He's counting on using JG Sablan's 11 year old mining permit which as far
as I am aware has done squat for the CNMI. I hope he is wrong."
- February 10, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Bridgecreek: New mining bill
won't apply to us - - A Los Angeles-based firm seeking to extract pozzolan
from Pagan believes that the Pagan mining task force bill does not apply to the
joint venture company it recently formed with a local business. John Carlson,
chief executive officer of Bridgecreek International Corp., said in an interview
that House Bill 15-56 would apply only to companies applying for new permits to
mine Pagan pozzolan...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 10,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - Mining venture pledges $50K-$100K to PSS: "calindas/
After all these years, is anyone dumb enough to buy this inspired offer from JG
Sablan-Bridgecreek International Corportion? Possibly, given that Sablan has been
allowed to hold onto his seemingly inactive permit for a decade without being
declared in breach of contract."
- February 10, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Mining venture pledges
$50K-$100K to PSS - - The cash-strapped Public School System may finally
get some much-needed funding. That is, if JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. and Bridgecreek
International Corp. eventually get their project to mine pozzolan from Pagan Island
lift off the ground
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 9,
2006 - Marianas Variety - People of the NMI deserve the best: "letter
to the editor/cinta m. kaipat/peter j. panglinan perez/ Freshman legislator
and president of the United Northern Mariana Islanders Association and
PaganWatch advocate recount the dismal record of JG Sablan Rock Quarry
on Pagan."
- February 9, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Forum: People of the NMI
deserve the best - - MOST Northern Islands residents remember the last
time that JG Sablan Rock Quarry's president asked them to support his Pagan
mining venture. A HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES: John Sablan did not deliver
on his promises of a trust fund, jobs, buildings, and free cargo and passenger
transport. What little transport was provided to the mayor's office, was followed
by an invoice, according to a public auditor's report...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 8,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - Northern Islanders remember: "letter to the
editor/cinta m. kaipat/peter j. pangelinan perez/ How about the Pagan
pozzolan mining (non) performance over more than a decade of J.G. Sablan?"
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 8,
2006 - Saipan Tribune - Cohen: Be fair to all businesses: "donato/
Office of Insular Affairs Director David B. Cohen seems to be signalling
that he has problems with the alliance between Bridgecreek International
Corporation and JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. to mine pozzolan on Pagan."
- February 8, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Cohen: Be fair to all businesses
- - A ranking federal official reminded the CNMI government yesterday
to maintain a good reputation in the business community, as this is crucial in
its ability to attract potential investors...
- February 8, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Letter to the Editor:
Northern Islanders remember - - Most Northern Islands residents
remember the last time that JG Sablan Rock Quarry's president asked
them to support his Pagan mining venture...
- February 7, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: 'It's now or never on Pozzolan
venture' - - A Los Angeles-based real estate company that has teamed up
with a local company to extract Pagan pozzolan is ready to invest $10 million
into the joint venture...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 7, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - 'It's now or never on Pozzolan venture': "donato/
Hmmm... Sounds like your classic closing deal from LA-based Bridgecreek
International, also defending its hookup with J.G. Sablan. They claim a
deal with China on this."
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 6, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - Fitial supports creation of Pagan task force: "deposa/
Governor Benigno Repeki Fitial wants to figure out what resources are on Pagan
and how to get the best deal for the government, according to Press Secretary
Charles P. Reyes Jr."
- February 6, 2006 - Marinas Varity: Fitial supports creation of
Pagan task force - - GOVERNOR Benigno R. Fitial supports the creation of
a multi-agency task force to determine exactly what the CNMI has in terms of
mining assets on Pagan how best to provide a good deal for the government,
according to Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.On Friday, a bill creating the
multi-agency task force was introduced by Rep. Cinta M. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan
and a member of the PaganWatch advocacy group...
- February 4, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Admin backs Kaipat bill
on Pagan - - The Fitial administration is behind a proposed
legislation that will temporarily halt mining operations on Pagan until
a task force is created that will make comprehensive impact studies on
the project...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 4, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - Admin backs Kaipat bill on Pagan: "donato/ Fitial-Villagomez
administration backs Representative Cinta Kaipat bill which would temporarily
halt any pozzolan mining on Pagan until it's determined by an independent study
how much of the mineral is there."
- February 3, 2006 - Marianas Variety: Pagan Watch lawyer says
MPLA should disclose records on JG Sablan - - THE lawyer for
PaganWatch yesterday asked the Marianas Public Lands Authority to release
all its records on JG Sablan for inspection. PaganWatcg earlier raised
concerns about the joint-venture agreement between JG Sablan and Bridgecreek
International Inc. to extract pozzolan from Pagan...
- February 3, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Bridgecreek, JG Sablan
proceed with partnership - - JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. and
Bridgecreek International Corp. seem all set to commence their joint
venture to extract pozzolan from Pagan, even as a lawmaker insists
that the partnership agreement is not a done deal as far as the
government is concerned...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 3,
2006 - Marianas Variety - PaganWatch lawyers says MPLA should disclose records
on JG Sablan: Support PSS: "donato/ House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta favors
partnership between J.G. Sablan Rock Quarry and Bridgecreek Internation
Corporation."
- February 2, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: Babauta to Pagan proponents
- - House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta threw his support yesterday behind
the newly formed partnership between J.G. Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. and
Bridgecreek International Corp. on the Pagan mining project...
- Bruce Lloyd
Media: Comments on Reports in the CNMI News Media
February 2, 2006
- Saipan Tribune - Babauta to Pagan proponents: Support PSS: "donato/ House
Speaker Oscar M. Babauta favors partnership between J.G. Sablan Rock Quarry and
Bridgecreek Internation Corporation."
- January 28, 2006 - Saipan Tribune: 'Legit route to mining permit
is via task force' - - Although it supports and encourages the interest
shown by Bridgecreek International in mining pozzolan from Pagan, local CNMI
watchdog group PaganWatch said it neither endorses Bridgecreek nor its
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