GTA Waiting On Action from Commonwealth PUC to Expand Services in CNMI

Guam -  GTA today [Tuesday] announced that the company is one step closer to obtaining a certificate of authority from the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission to expand its services in the CNMI.  The approval of the application would allow GTA to become a local exchange carrier on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.  GTA’s certificate of authority to operate would need a formal ratification by the commission once it establishes a quorum.

Daniel Tydingco, executive vice president of Regulatory, External and Legal affairs at GTA says,  “We’ve been working extremely hard to ensure our application is processed legally, properly and in accordance with procedures.”  He says, “While we await the final approval of our application by the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, our goal is clear that we intend to bring competitive services, products and prices to our neighbors in the north and for the benefit of all our customers.”

GTA first submitted an application in March of 2011, but the review encountered challenges by Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation dba IT&E.  IT&E requested for a rehearing on the application in November.  Over the past few months, the application was thoroughly reviewed by the commission’s consultant, Georgetown Consulting.  The commission recently concluded that GTA met all necessary requirements to move forward in the process.

The CNMI PUC is awaiting the appointment of additional Commissioners to continue its consideration of this matter.

Bordallo: Help Cancer Patients Find Match at Marrow Registry Drive

Guam - Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo is inviting Guam residents to participate in the Bone Marrow Donor Registry to support cancer patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.Dr. Thomas Shieh is organizing a bone marrow registry drive for two individuals in dire need of finding a match.

Joey Tyquiengco, a former Guam resident, has been diagnosed with acute mylogenous leukemia (AML) and needs a bone marrow transplant. Joey resides in San Francisco, California where he is receiving treatment for AML.

Janet Liang, an Asian-American, has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and has until April of this year to find a match. Janet was born in Hawaii and attended the University of California, Los Angeles, before moving to San Francisco to undergo treatment.

The bone marrow registry drive will take place on February 10, 11, and 12 at the Guam Premier Outlets in Tamuning.  Residents must be between the ages of 18 and 60, willing to donate to any patient in need, and meet the health guidelines.

“I encourage eligible Guam residents to register in the Bone Marrow Donor Registry to help individuals, like Joey Tyquiengco and Janet Liang, who are struggling with cancer.” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “This registry will help match qualified donors with patients in critical need of a bone marrow transplant.  Our community has been very responsive in past bone marrow registry drives, including the Drive for Justice, and I hope that this drive will find a match for Joey and Janet.  I commend Dr. Shieh and all volunteers for organizing this event and helping cancer patients across our nation in their battle against cancer.”

Pentagon Statement on 1st Day of Talks to Revise Guam Buildup

Guam - The Pentagon’s East Asia and Pacific Affairs Spokeswoman Lesley Hullryde released the following statement in response to a request from PNC’s Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye for comment on the first day of negotiations in Washington over changes under consideration to the 2006 Roadmap to Realignment, and the 2009 Guam International Agreement, two documents which govern the Guam Military buildup.

Statement of Marine Commander Lesley Hullryde, Pentagon’s East Asia and Pacific Affairs Spokeswoman:

Representatives from the United States and Japan met today [Monday] at the Department of State to discuss the 2006 Realignment Roadmap and the Guam International Agreement with Japan.

Jim Zumwalt, deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of East Asian & Pacific Affairs, and Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense, Asian & Pacific Security Affairs, East Asia, represented the U.S. Departments of State and Defense respectively.  Takeo Akiba, deputy director-general, North American Affairs Bureau and Tetsuro Kuroe, deputy director-general, represented Japan’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense respectively.

Meeting participants reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to maintaining and enhancing a robust security alliance, which is dedicated to the security of Japan and to the maintenance of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.  The USG remains committed to enhancing the U.S.-Japan Alliance and strengthening operational capabilities while significantly reducing the impact of U.S. bases on the Okinawan people.

To that end, representatives reaffirmed their support of the principles of the 2006 Realignment Roadmap and pursuit of a military presence in Japan and the Asia Pacific region that is operationally resilient, geographically distributed, and politically sustainable.  Specifically, the two countries remain fully committed to the implementation of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) and the relocation of the MCAS Futemna air base to Camp Schwab.

Guam remains an essential part of the United States’ larger Asia Pacific Strategy, which includes developing Guam as a strategic hub and to establishing an operational Marine Corps presence on Guam by relocating some Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

The United States and Japan continuously looking for more efficient and effective ways to achieve the goals of the Realignment Road Map.  However, no decisions have been made; therefore, there are no announcements to be made.

Rules Committee Meets Friday to Set Next Week’s Session Agenda

Guam - Majority Leader and Rules Committee Chair Senator Rory Respicio has scheduled a Rules Committee meeting for this Friday at 2 pm to set the agenda for next week’s legislative session.

The February Session will get underway next Monday, February 13.

The bills, appointments and resolutions that will be considered during that session will be announced following this Friday’s Rules Committee meeting.

 

AUDIO: D.C. Report - Pentagon Confirms Talks With Japan on Buildup Revisions

Washington D.C. - The pentagon is trying to square the record on changed Guam build-up plans, after days of sometimes conflicting reports by international media organizations.

 

HEAR Matt Kaye’s report HERE>>>02-07 gurealigmentoverhaul.mp3

The Pentagon’s East Asia and Pacific Affairs Spokeswoman Lesley Hullryde says the U.S. is committed to relocating “some” Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

Various news outlets have reported differing numbers, the latest…47-hundred. But U.S. talks with Japan on revising realignment plans are continuing, here.

Hullryde says the two governments are now “communicating closely,” regarding the way ahead on a number of related issues…adding,“we will have more…to share in the coming days.”

Kyodo News has reported a new realignment plan will be released next Monday. But Hullryde has given no specific date.  She repeats that the Pentagon continues to support the 2006 Realignment Roadmap.

Hullyryde told PNC News last week that the U.S. will pursue a military presence in the region that is “geographically distributed and politically sustainable.”

But issues of how many Marines DoD will move to Guam, or where others will go, as some reports have speculated to Hawaii or Australia, Hullryde won’t say.

And the Pentagon is sticking to its commitment to a Futenma replacement facility and relocation of the Futenma air base to Camp Schwab.

But there’s also nothing specific from Hullryde yet, on whether redeployment of marines from Okinawa is now de-linked and separated from what happens in Okinawa.

She writes, “We are mindful of Congressional concerns about the Guam relocation plan. However no decisions have been made with regard to possible adjustments to the Guam…plan, and we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper is reporting the move of U.S. Marines out of Okinawa may happen before the relocation of the Futenma air station.

Kyodo and Reuters also reported a “de-linking” of the Guam and Futenma realignments is now expected.

Meantime, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo confirmed Monday the Obama Administration and Tokyo continue to discuss the U.S. military posture in the region but cautions “specific details of these discussions have not been released.”

Guam EPA Offers Certification Exams for Operators of Water and Wastewater Systems

Guam -  The Guam Environmental Protection Agency (Guam EPA) is offering exams next month for individuals working with water and wastewater systems in Guam.

The exam will be offered on Thursday, March 29, 2012. The deadline to register for the exam is 5 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012. Documents for the exam can be downloaded from epa.guam.gov or picked up at Guam EPA’s main office in Tiyan.

“Ensuring the individuals who run our community water system have the proper training and knowledge to do the job is one of the best ways to ensure Guam’s drinking water remains safe and clean,” said Guam EPA Administrator Ivan Quinata. “These certifications are part of Guam’s environmental regulation and a critical component of a functioning water and wastewater system.”

Applications must be submitted with supporting documents and the $60 exam fee. Checks should be made out to the “Treasurer of Guam c/o Guam EPA SDW Program”.

Those who submit complete applications and meet the exam criteria, will be notified of their ability to take the exam by Friday, March 16, 2012. Individuals who apply and do not receive a notification letter should contact Ed Ibay at 475-1638.

The Water and Wastewater Operators Exam is required by Guam Code Annotated Chapter 52. This section requires personnel employed to work on public or private potable water supply or wastewater systems to be certified. The law also outlines civil and criminal penalties for those who attempt to operate a potable water system without being certified.

VIDEO: Revised Realignment Roadmap on the Horizon

Guam - For more than a year, the message from Washington has been that the size of the buildup would be scaled back, and its pace would be slowed.

{youtube}BLa0wHH3nfw{/youtube}

Congress put the buildup on hold and no one could say when it would be back on again. But, now a flurry of reports from international media seem to indicate that the Obama Administration is trying to jump start the process again.

The President of the Guam Contractor’s Association, James Martinez, is cautiously optimistic.

GEB Could Extend Superintendent Search Through April

Guam- The Search for a new Superintendent for the Department of Education could continue into the Spring.

Guam Education Board Superintendent Search Committee Chair Paul Pineda tells PNC that the committee plans to recommend the Board extend the search for applicants to April 30th, after only one complete application was submitted by the January 31st deadline.

Pineda says the Board had been under the impression that three of the six applications submitted were complete.  After the committee met this morning they discovered one of the applicants didn’t meet the qualifications and the other submitted required documents after the deadline, meaning only one application for a qualified candidate was completed in time.

A Board Resolution passed since the last search makes the applications confidential until the committee recommends three candidates to the Board, because of the resolution Pineda was unable to tell us who the complete application belongs to.

29 Year Old Japanese Tourist Dies Following Diving Accident at Outhouse Beach

Guam - A 29 year old Japanese tourist has died following a diving accident at Outhouse Beach this afternoon [Monday].

Navy Spokeswoman Coleen San Nicolas Perez says the man was pronounced dead at 1:38 pm.

The Port Authority of Guam had reported that their officers responded to a diving accident at 12:50 pm today [Monday].

According to a release from the Port, when Port Police Officer II F.J.  San Nicolas arrived at Outhouse Beach he observed that members of a diving company were already performing CPR on the victim.

Officer San Nicolas reported that “the 29-year-old Japanese tourist was scuba diving with a group of individuals when the incident occurred.”

Members of the diving company had brought the man to shore and administered CPR until GFD medics arrived on the scene and transported him to Naval Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

VIDEO: Half of GPD’s Fleet is Down

Guam - About 50 percent of the Guam Police Department’s vehicles are grounded for repairs.

 

{youtube}U0NFvNy5QWk{/youtube}

GPD Chief of Police Fred Bordallo told lawmakers today that 27 patrol cars are in operation while 24 are grounded and only 11 motorcycles are operational while the remaining 21 are down. Chief Bordallo says that some of these vehicles and motorcycles only require simple repairs while others will be more costly to get up and running.

In the meantime, each division within GPD is sharing vehicles to ensure that there are enough vehicles on the streets. “We believe that it’s going to take some monies in terms of 8 to 9 thousand dollars in taking care of maintenance and repairing some of the vehicles that have been caused through some of the crashes involving our fleet or some of the wear and tear but again as I said earlier we’re also looking at the Department of Interior funding,” said Chief Bordallo.

Chief Bordallo also told lawmakers today that they need in excess of 200 thousand dollars to finish their move out of Tiyan. This will cover pay for overtime, rental of a new building for their records and I.D. section, and the rental for their new central offices in the old customs building in Tiyan.