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Guam Power Authority’s LNG Proposal Partly Approved

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

Guam Power Authority’s LNG Proposal Partly Approved PUC doesn’t feel consulting should be funded with LEAC money

By Michelle Conerly

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Jan. 2, 2014) – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Tuesday refused to approve the full cost of the Guam Power Authority's (GPA) multimillion-dollar consulting contract to implement liquefied natural gas.

The power company could not justify funding about $1.86 million in services through the fuel recovery surcharge reflected on monthly power bills, according to commissioners, and must return with an alternative funding source for this portion of the project.

Fred Horecky, PUC legal counsel, said commissioners, knowing GPA had to get going on the LNG implementation plan, approved all costs they felt were somehow related to the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause (LEAC), which amounted to $2,045,000.

These included the integrated resource plan, how and when to retire older plants,...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Am. Samoa Government Decries Contract Termination Lawsuit

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ASG moved to drop contract over bonds revealed to be fake

By Joyetter Feagaimaalii-Luamanu

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Jan. 1, 2014) – The American Samoa Government (ASG) claims Whitehorn Construction Inc. (WCI) has "unclean hands" in their response to the WCI lawsuit against the government, which claims ASG failed to uphold its legal and regulatory responsibilities by failing to ensure the validity of the bonds.

The lawsuit was filed before the Administrative Law Judge when the government moved to terminate its contract with WCI.

ASG moved to terminate the contract after the government found out the bonds issued were fake or bogus. The issue of the bonds came to light when an official with Chubb Group of Insurance Companies contacted the local DPW and AG’s offices, informing them the agent or broker though which WCI posted their bond did not work for Chubb. WCI had been awarded the contract to fix the Airport Road.

WCI says, in...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Fiji Government’s Free Education Grants To Begin

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

Fiji Government’s Free Education Grants To Begin Almost 900 schools eligible for support will see funds by Jan. 10

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Jan. 1, 2014) – The eligible 898 Fijian schools who qualify for the free education grant will start receiving their allocation for the first school term from tomorrow.

Of these, 730 are primary schools and 168 are secondary schools.

Speaking to FijiLive, Education Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Brij Lal said by 10 January all schools would have received the grant.

"We will deposit the money into their respective schools’ accounts.

"So by 10 January all schools that qualify for the grant will have that allocation in their accounts to start the new school term."

The ministry reminds the heads of the 898 eligible schools they still need to submit their audited report for 2013 by 31 May to ensure they receive their allocations for Terms 2 and 3 on time.

Rural and remote schools that need assistance...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Some Guam Agencies Still Not Submitting Required Reports

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

OPA finds only 24 of 53 government entities in full compliance

By Louella Losinio

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, Jan. 2, 2014) – Only 29 of 53 GovGuam entities either fully or partially complied with the Citizen-Centric Reports (CCR) required by Public Law 31-77, the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) reported.

According to the OPA, only 29 agencies or 55 percent fully or partially complied with the CCR requirement.

A total of 53 entities were required to submit a CCR to post on their website, including the Office of the Governor, the Judiciary of Guam and the Legislature.

The number of entities required to submit CCRs decreased from the 59 in prior years as a result of the Governor’s Reorganization Advisory Nos. 5 and 6, which consolidated certain agencies under the Department of Land Management and the Department of Chamorro Affairs effective October 2011.

Unlike the past two years, the OPA said it chose not to send out...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Guam Hospital Waiting For Finalizing Of $25 Million Loan

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Loan will be used to pay debts to hospital vendors: administrator

By Amanda Francel Blas

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Jan. 2, 2014) – While Guam’s only public hospital hoped to borrow $25 million to pay some of its bills before the end of the year, Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) is still waiting as loan documents are finalized.

"Both the hospital and the bank's lawyers are working on the loan documents," Joe Verga, GMH administrator, said. "We should have the loan by early (this) year."

The loan, which will be lent by Bank of Guam, will help the hospital repay an existing loan that was used to bail out the hospital about three years ago, Pacific Daily News files state.

The loan also will be used to pay debts to vendors. Verga said Supply Service Center, a federal wholesaler of pharmaceutical and medical supplies based in Perry Point, Md., will be among the first vendors to be paid once the loan is approved.

"They've already been...

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Thu
02
Jan
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PNG Police Say Christmas Jail Breakout ‘Well-Planned’

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More than 30 ‘dangerous’ inmates still on the run

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 1, 2014) – More than 30 prisoners remain on the run in Papua New Guinea's southern highlands, after a mass breakout during Christmas celebrations at the weekend.

At total of 42 prisoners escaped from the Buiebi jail just outside of Mendi late on the weekend, but six have since been recaptured.

The Southern Highlands Provincial Police Commissioner Chief Inspector Sibron Papoto told Pacific Beat it seems the breakout was well planned.

Mr Papoto says it is a routine that the officers take the prisoners out for church service and light refreshments during the Christmas period.

Just as the prisoners were being locked up, some of them tried to escape by getting into a fight with the officers in charge.

"They knocked off (a) particular lance corporal, lifted them up and pushed them towards the main gate," Mr Papoto said.

"As soon as that was going...

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Thu
02
Jan
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CNMI Environmental Agencies Merger An Uphill Battle

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Lawmakers concerned governor’s decision could risk federal funds

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 2, 2014) – CNMI Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ Nov. 12 decision merging the Division of Environmental Quality and the Coastal Resources Management Office faces an uphill battle, barely days before the Legislature’s 60-day deadline to either modify or reject the executive order. This, as a House committee reviewing it may recommend rejection over concerns that the merger may result in federal funding loss.

"The merger may affect federal funding for the agencies. That’s our main concern," House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations chair Christopher Leon Guerrero (Cov-Saipan) told Saipan Tribune. The JGO panel is reviewing the governor’s Executive Order 2013-24. It will then recommend to the full House to either reject or accept the EO.

The reorganization plan becomes effective 60 days after submission to the Legislature, unless a...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Thousands Of Cook Islands Solar Energy Batteries Criticized

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

Local energy company director says lead batteries unsafe

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 2, 2014) – Officials in Cook Islands are being criticised for placing around 2,000 potentially hazardous lead batteries on half a dozen remote islands.

The batteries are being used to store solar energy to power up the islands at night.

But an expert in the field, prominent local businessman Steve Anderson, says it is unlikely the batteries will ever be removed once they expire in a few years.

Mr Anderson told Pacific Beat as the country is made up of many small islands, the logistics of getting heavy items to these islands is extraordinary.

"Very often they have to be hand carried or lifted off barges and so on. So the idea that they will come back to be recycled is a very remote...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Fiji Hotel Strike Declared Unlawful By Labor Ministry

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

Minister says striking staff did not notify trade unions registrar

By Repeka Nasiko

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 1, 2014) – A strike by hotel workers of Sheraton Fiji Resort and Westin Denarau Resort and Spa has been declared unlawful by the Ministry of Labour.

In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, Labour Minister Jone Usamate said the strike by the hotel staff breached Section 175 of the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007.

Mr Usamate said Section One of the ERP required that a notice of secret ballot be provided to the Registrar of Trade Unions prior to any strike action.

"The Registrar of Trade Unions today confirmed that he has not received a notice of secret ballot as required under the law," he said.

"For a strike to be lawful, a notice must be served on the Registrar of Trade Unions twenty one (21) days prior to the nominated date...

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Thu
02
Jan
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Campaigning Stopped In Wake Of Vanuatu Minister’s Death

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/02/2014 - 00:00

Parties reportedly plan to renew activities after Crowby laid to rest

By Ricky Binihi

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Dec. 31, 2013) – When Port Vila learned about the death of Patrick Crowby, Minister of Internal Affairs, in New Caledonia the presidents of the parties that are contesting the Port Vila Municipality have temporarily stopped public campaigns.

Port Vila would still go to Polls and elect 12 councilors and specifically five female councilors from the Reserve Seats on January 7, 2014.

But because Crowby was the late Minister of Elections and was a former Port Vila’s First Citizen who had transformed it to The Most Beautiful City in the South Pacific as Mayor in the ‘90s many longtime Vanuatu politicians want to pay homage to Crowby.

And will announce the re-opening of political public campaign when he is laid to rest in Port Vila Cemetery.

Indirect instructions have been issued that no public campaigns will take place...

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