by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The Port Authority of Guam is formally disputing the invoice it received for $12 million as part of thee annual assessment to the Autonomous Agency Infrastructure Collections Fund. The Calvo Administration has decided to implement Public Law 24-14, which requires the Port, Airport and Guam Power Authority to remit annual payments that would be deposited into the Fund.

Port general manager Pedro Leon Guerrero says the last time the agency remitted any payment was in 1997 for $3.5 million. He cites a specific portion of the law that states the proportionate contribution of each agency to make up the $3.5 million shall be determined through a formula decided upon by the governor in consultation with the respective agency's board of directors.

He stated: "No governor since has ever consulted with the PAG board of directors in order to determine the proportionate contributions for any of the periods noted in your invoice, which is a requirement of this law. It's our position to question the validity of the invoice that's obviously a product of the misapplication of law."

The Airport does intend to pay the money, believing that such payments are not required because they are in violation of bond covenants. GPA as well said they would have to raise rates to come up with the money but the law specifically prohibits that from occurring.