Port's Brown "very disturbed" by allegations about Vanessa Williams
by Ken Quintanilla
Guam - Just as one case is before the Attorney General's Office involving an election day affidavit, another individual named in the matter has now been forwarded to the Guam Bar Association.
Allegations that have come to light recently have created a cause for concern. That's from the Civil Service Commission who has since sought the advice of the Guam Bar Association over Attorney Vanessa Williams and her alleged involvement with Bernadette Meno, the former Port Authority of Guam marketing manager who was terminated along with several other employees in December 2012. All are accused of being involved in an alleged conspiracy to defraud the government and cover it up.
All the fired employees had filed an appeal before the CSC.
"We're very concerned," noted Port general manager Joanne Brown, "because it's always our hope that when we come before the commission that we're going to be given a fair and equal opportunity to present our cases." She says she was surprised over the alleged connection both Williams and Meno may have.
It was over the weekend when Dededo Precinct official Catherine Peredo withdrew her complaint that alleged she saw an ice cooler filled with pre-marked ballots. In a disclosure notice, Peredo says didn't prepare the affidavit but rather Meno did. Meno however responded that she was in a meeting with two other people when Peredo made the allegations, they were Robert Kelly and Williams. Kelley also issued a comment stating both Meno and Williams asked Peredo questions and took notes.
"Certainly we appreciate the fact and hold attorneys to a higher standard," Brown continued. "They're in a position to advise and in this case advise the commission on matters that are before them and we're not saying you can't support a gubernatorial campaign or senatorial campaign - that's everyone's free right to do that. What you can't do is sit on the commission, the Civil Service Commission, and provide legal advice on cases that are involving people that you actually have or it may appears at this point has relationships and involvements with. I've been in politics for 30 years and you don't get into the inter-sanctum of a campaign overnight."
In a letter to the Guam Bar Association signed by all seven commissioners, the CSC requests for a review of the matter and clarification of any steps they should take. In the letter the CSC does state they do not have any knowledge relating to the truth of the allegations of involvement between Williams and Meno, but also note that "the CSC is serious about maintaining its integrity and avoiding conflicts of interest." Brown tells KUAM she believes the matter needs to be looked into further.
The GM stated, "And it just should have never been. If that was the case, if Attorney Williams probably more than anyone else in the room was aware of her relationships. I mean, that is something she should have disclosed or stepped down and not taken on these cases. Because now for us, it has tainted the process and puts a big question mark in my mind if we had a fair and equal opportunity before the commission, and it just appears inappropriate and improper And we're very disturbed by all of this."
Williams in the meantime released a statement saying she did not advise Peredo or Meno nor did she draft the affidavit. She further states she has neither a personal nor professional relationship with either Meno or Kelley. She does acknowledge that she was present at the Gutierrez-Gumataotao headquarters and was requested to provide legal representations however she respectfully declined. She goes on to say, "I have duties and responsibilities under the Rules of Professional Conduct, which I take very seriously in the representation of my clients."
![[image]](https://KUAM.images.worldnow.com/images/6017905_G.jpg)