CNMI Governor Inos signs law extending price-freeze order

Senate Bill 19-59, which amends Commonwealth Disaster Price Freeze Act of 2015 to further “protect” residents from price increases during a disaster situation, was signed into law by Governor Eloy S. Inos on Friday.

In a press statement, Inos said: “Consumers should be aware and unscrupulous retailers are warned that it is illegal to engage in price gouging following a major disaster. The Consumers Protection Act makes it unlawful for businesses to engage in price gouging. The Office of the Attorney General will prosecute both criminally and civilly any business that engages in price gouging.”

Inos said the prices of the following items should remain frozen: gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, natural gas and all other chemical fuels whether in gaseous, liquid or solid form, all food and foodstuffs including water, bottled water, beverages and ice, flashlights, lamps, candles, lanterns, light bulbs, and other means of illumination; generators, cables, wires, electrical batteries of every sort and similar equipment for the generation and or transmission or electrical power and all appliances used in the storage and or preparation of food, including but not limited to stoves, barbecue grills, ovens, refrigerators and coolers, tools typically used for construction, ground clearing or home repairs whether electrically powered, chemically powered or manual, including but not limited to saws, machetes, shovels, rakes, and brooms, and all bedding items including pillows, futons and blankets.

“It is illegal for any person or business to raise the price of any of the above listed items while a price freeze is in effect. A violation of the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act is punishable by a $10,000 fine and one year of imprisonment for each violation,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, CNMI government agencies and eligible private non-profit agencies have until Sept. 4 to submit requests for public assistance to CNMI Homeland Security.

Saipan in the CNMI was severely damaged by Typhoon Soudelor, which hit the island on Aug 2. Since then the local and federal governments have been working with each other and nonprofit organizations like the Salvation Army and American Red Cross and their CNMI chapters to restore the island’s infrastructure and help residents affected by the typhoon.

The public assistance aid available to the CNMI government and certain nonprofits is aimed at agencies and organizations that help with disaster relief and recovery. Agencies can receive reimbursement for emergency response or be reimbursed for repair and replacement of damaged public facilities.

The public assistance programme is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and CNMI. FEMA reimburses qualified applicants for up to 75 percent of eligible expenses. The public assistance program was made available after President Barack Obama declared the CNMI in an emergency state of disaster, according to a statement from FEMA.

The reimbursements will be paid to the CNMI and the government will disburse the funds to the respective departments and organizations. This is separate from the individual assistance FEMA is offering residents of Saipan.

More than 2,000 residents have registered with FEMA for individual assistance.

In the first week of offering assistance to individuals in Saipan, FEMA officials said more than 75,000 liters of water was distributed, as well as more than 55,000 ready-to-eat meals, 216 cots and 1,800 tents and tarps.Description: http://www.mvariety.com/images/photos/Mugshots/FEMA01XL.jpg