by Nick Delgado

Guam - A local Philippine-based company was ordered to pay one-third of the $25,000 it received for creating the plans for the Chamorro Village project to the Professional Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors (PEALS) Board after the company was found to be unlicensed to do such work. But it seems the company may face even more fines and might even receive more penalties for violating Guam law.

JAD & Associates was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine to the PEALS Board for violating provisions of the registration law. JAD was placed under the microscope by the board after releasing architectural plans for the new Chamorro Village project and for not having a license to provide such services on Guam.

Department of Public Works Director Larry Perez says they too are keeping a close watch on JAD, telling KUAM News, "Now keep in mind they may be in violation here, but DPW still has to make sure that they fulfill the contract representation to us and if they don't then we will take our action."

JAD contends they didn't violate any laws arguing their conceptual and assessment study, which was accepted by DPW is being mistaken as architectural work. Department of Chamorro Affairs President Sylvia Flores said, "It was a miscommunication between the Department of Public Works staff and us, because I have told them that the criteria has been met, the have given us an assessment of what we need to do.

"They just have to meet the peals board requirement and we have to move forward."

While JAD has paid the $10,000 fine to resolve the issue, the PEALS Board has also required an additional $5,000 as part of its disciplinary action. "If they do not fulfill our requirements, we would have to terminate their contract and award it to the most responsive contractor," said DPW's Perez.

The company is also directed by the PEALS Board to place a notice in a local newspaper stating that their firm is not an architectural firm and is not authorized to provide architectural services on Guam. PEALS Board officials say only then will the board consider the matter closed.