by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Senator Tom Ada believes there are two Port Authority of Guam board members who are serving in an illegal capacity. It's the latest development in the ongoing drama at the agency. Ada wrote a letter to Acting Governor Ray Tenorio asking him to make new appointments as he contends the terms for port board chair Dan Tydingco and board member Mike Benito have expired.

Ada says it appears there was an oversite during the appointment process of the board members. Specifically he believes Tydingco and Benito were appointed to fulfill the unexpired terms of the previous member they replaced on the board. Ada has asked the acting governor to take "immediate and decisive action to ensure our island's commercial seaport is able to function within the parameters of Guam statute."

The senator meanwhile has called for a hearing with the port for next Wednesday when he will bring up the tenure of the board members, as well as the port's legal services contract, and management's review of the workman's compensation insurance. The hearing is scheduled for three o'clock on March 5.

Of note is that Ada's second cousin, Vivian Leon, was among the seven employees who were terminated late last year for alleged improper activity in relation to the handling of a work related injury.

Governor's deputy press secretary Janna Fernandez meanwhile responded to the senator's concerns, saying, "Respectfully, his assessment is not accurate. In January and Feburary of 2011 Governor Calvo appointed Dan Tydingco, Michael Benito and Ed Ilao to the Port Board for a term of three years. All three were confirmed by the legislature in February of 2011 for the three year term. Their terms are not expired and they are still legal members of the board. There is no need to appoint two new members."