PUC also concerned with NDAA provision

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - There's overwhelming support for a legislative resolution that spells out lawmakers' concerns with a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that seeks to give the Department of Defense at least 33% voting rights on the Consolidated Commission on Utilities and charging the people of Guam $300,000,000 for the transfer of Fena to the Guam Waterworks Authority. 

Resolution 48 states unequivocally that the Navy waterworks infrastructure be transferred at no cost to taxpayers and that the DoD have no seat on the elected CCU. Commission member Eloy Hara testified in support of the resolution, saying a memorandum of understanding was signed between GWA, the CCU and the Navy last July spelling out their discussions about integration of the system with an eventual takeover by GWA.

Senator Frank Blas, Jr. asked, "Were there at any time during the discussions any of the Navy or the DoD's desire to sell their assets to the Government of Guam?" "No senator," replied Hara, "there was never an issue or discussion." The policymaker then asked "Has there then been any discussions along those lines of the MOU of the Navy or Defense's desire to have a 33% voting seat on the CCU?

Said Hara, "Absolutely not, that don't make no sense at all."

Attorney Fred Horecky also testified on behalf of the Public Utilities Commission chairperson, saying such provision included in the NDAA is unheard of. "I really can't understand how anyone in the federal government could have thought of this," he responded. "I've never heard of it. Normally the federal government does not want to become involved in local commissions and there's kind of that separation of jurisdictions."