by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - A resolution to provide a ferry service or similar vessels between Guam and Rota is up for public hearing tomorrow. Introduced by Senator Tina Muna Barnes, Resolution 279 would support resolutions already adopted by the Micronesia Islands Legislatures Association and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.

"I've met with delegation from Rota, the whole delegation from the Senate, the House of Representatives, the mayor in Saipan. We met the Commonwealth Transit Authority, we've also met with the senate president and the vice president and also Governor Inas had shared his support. They are sending statements of support for this resolution so we can move forward," she said.

With only 50 miles separating Guam and Rota, Barnes states a roundtrip plane ticket costs anywhere from $250-290.

The hope is to start a pilot ferry service between Guam and Rota and later expand to include Tinian and Saipan.

The public hearing gets underway at 10:30 a.m. at the Legislature's Public Hearing Room.