by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Governor Eddie Calvo had a teleconference with Navy Undersecretary Robert Work today. Discussions focused on the military buildup, cuts to construction funding for Guam and a memorandum of understanding for Section 30 monies for rotational troops as well as progress with the China Visa Waiver Program.

Governor's chief policy advisor Arthur Clark tells KUAM News various departments within the federal government are working on reconciling a position. "Last we understand, these departments are supposed to have an interagency meeting to try to reconcile their positions and we're just waiting for those meetings to be held. Undersecretary Work has promised to push that meeting forward to try and move on this issue."

Clark could not say how soon that would happen, but says the Calvo Administration is confident that Undersecretary Work is an advocate for GovGuam's position relative to getting the China visa waiver as quickly as possible with the fewest restrictions to make travel for Chinese visitors as convenient as possible.

The final decision rests with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that has expressed national security concerns with allowing the China Visa Waiver Program.