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Tony Sablan says giving DPS more personnel could curb overtime

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Jan. 7, 2014) – CNMI House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Tony P. Sablan will look into the possibility of reducing police officers’ overtime (OT) hours and the government’s utility debt to avoid overspending.

Sablan, IR-Saipan, noted that Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ expenditure report for fiscal year 2013, attributed most of the overspending to excessive prior-year and current-year utility charges, overspending in Department of Public Safety (DPS) operations and unbudgeted costs for medical referral.

Although the revenue collections in FY ’13 were higher than projected, Inos’ annual report disclosed a net deficit of $1.3 million because the government’s total expenditures exceeded the appropriations under Public Law 17-85.

The report showed total revenue of $116.8 million or $2.5 million in excess of projected revenue. However, the...

Audit will compare purchase with costs of building other schools

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Jan. 7, 2014) – Guam Public Auditor Doris Flores Brooks' office has launched an audit into tax credits granted to Core Tech International and the construction contractor's recent deal that could cost the government of Guam $160 million.

The Office of Public Accountability (OPA) had planned on auditing tax credits in general to get a picture of how much the government of Guam has approved outside the scope of the qualifying certificate program, Brooks said Friday. The public auditor's office last year released audits related to qualifying certificate program tax credits.

There hasn't been a comprehensive look at the amount of all tax credits GovGuam has granted over the years, and to what extent those tax credits have affected the local government's cash flow, she acknowledged.

And when questions were raised over GovGuam's...

Adjustments would reduce dependence on external assistance

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, Jan. 7, 2014) – The Port Authority of Guam is proposing the implementation of a five-year annual tariff increase of 4.36 percent to fund its projects under the revised port modernization program, as well as near-term sustainability initiatives.

The port is also proposing plans for 3.95 percent annual tariff increases after the initial five-year schedule to keep pace with inflation.

According to the Guam Master Plan Update 2013 Report prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff, the proposed tariff adjustments would allow the port to reduce or eliminate dependence on outside funding assistance.

Currently, projects under the Port Modernization Program are funded by grants from the Maritime Administration’s capital improvement program and the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, also called the Port Security Grant Program...

Authorities working to ensure safe sea passages

By Losalini Rasoqosoqo

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun, Jan. 6, 2014) – More lighthouses will be built this year to boost safe navigation within Fiji’s waters, says the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities.

This is a continuation of the work done by the ministry for the past three years to develop, upgrade and improve the country’s navigation aids.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Commander Francis Kean, said the nine lighthouses are earmarked to range from Viwa to Bekana Island, Kadavu, Totoya, Vanuakula and Yadua.

The latest lighthouses to be built by the ministry were at Cakaumomo Reef in the Koro Sea, which is an isolated reef between Batiki Island and Koro Island.

"Mariners who know Cakaumomo Reef, will know what I am talking about. Cakaumomo Reef is in the middle of nowhere, open to the elements and there been some very interesting stories from the staff who worked at the site. We...