Friday, July 3rd 2009 2:49 PM Chamorro Standard Time
Volume 7 No. 4 June 22, 2009 - July 5, 2009
Food for thought
Pago Bay Resort LLC and the Marianas Business Journal hosted the monthly Power Lunch on June 15 at the VIP Restaurant. At the event were (rear from left) Wendy Huang Ortiz, principal broker, Realty One Pacific; John Tarantino, chief operating officer, Pago Bay Resort; David McCall, president and chief executive officer Guam and chief executive office for American territories of ANZ/Citizens Security Bank; Anthony Gain, general manager, Hyatt Regency Guam; Roseann Jones, professor of economics, University of Guam and expert columnist, Marianas Business Journal; Frank J. Whitman, managing editor, Marianas Business Journal; (front from left) Maureen N. Maratita, publisher, Marianas Business Journal; Cynthia V. Ecube, attorney, Law Office of Cynthia V. Ecube, Esq.; and Kathy C. Sgro, executive vice president and marketing manager, Payless Markets Inc.
Guam News
Chamber's Leddy passes
Chamber's Leddy passes
NEWS FLASH! - Chugach bags multi-year $100-million military housing contract
Chugach bags multi-year $100-million military housing contract
A slice of paradise down south in Talofofo
It seems fitting that Paradiso Estates is situated in Talofofo, the village often known as "God's country." "[The name is] Spanish for 'paradise'," said Ellen J. Wilkinson, principal broker of Ellen's Realty and the developer of the subdivision. "It's so beautiful - there is an ocean view and a mountain view."
Communication, transparency key for Parsons CEO
Charles L. "Chuck" Harrington, chairman and chief executive officer of Parsons Corp., returns to company headquarters in Pasadena, Calif. following his five-day visit to Guam pleased with the performance of the Parsons employees on the island and with ideas for the company's future on Guam. Specifically, he intends to have the company upgrade its communications infrastructure on Guam to ensure that the community is well informed about the projects in which it is involved - among the most significant in the island's economy and its history. He also plans to strengthen ties with the University of Guam to facilitate a strong local work force and he sees opportunity to bring company units not yet on Guam to the island to work in some critical areas.
HNTB Federal
Recently, a number of mainland corporations have begun to establish a presence on Guam by forming partnerships with local concerns to work on projects related to the military buildup. One of those companies is HNTB Federal, a division of HNTB Corporation that focuses on work for federal agencies.
LPG going underground with SPPC
Liquefied petroleum gas is going underground in some of the newest housing subdivisions on Guam. What has, in the past, been kept outdoors in large tanks or delivered to homes in 50- or 100-pound cylinders will now be buried underground and out of sight. Two developments on island boast underground LPG currently - Talo Verde Estates on Ypao Road in Tamuning and Paradiso Estates in Talofofo, while the Pago Bay Resort subdivision in Yona is currently having the facilities installed.
Preparing for buildup, Black moving into new offices
Among the preparations Black Construction Corp. is making for the expected onslaught of military construction projects is the construction of a new $5.5 million office building on its compound in the Harmon Industrial Park. The new building will both provide much needed room for staff expansion and project an image that Black officials say will be "a little more representative of Black Construction."
Private sector leads trade mission to Manila: GovGuam to play support role
HAGÅTÑA, Guam - A group of private-sector businesspeople have organized a Guam Trade Mission to promote a variety of industries to a select group of targeted businesses in the Philippines.
Top Ten June through 18 June
NEWS FLASH! - HUBZone MACC contracts awarded, NEWS FLASH! - $10.5M ARRA contract awarded and $674M for Marine relocations
Buildup trickle-down, Guam grads gravitate to NAVFAC jobs
As the economy on Guam slows, and the need for trained business professionals to handle the demands of the upcoming military buildup increases, local professionals and new college graduates are migrating in droves to an internship program at Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas.
Editorial
Bon voyage
We support the governor's participation, and that of other appropriate government officials, in the recent trade mission to Taiwan as well as in the upcoming one to the Philippines. Given that the Manila nission is organized by members of the island's business community with the goal of attracting much-needed investment to Guam, and that the organizers have invited the governor in the belief that his presence will further that goal, it is entirely fitting that he take part.
Headline Story
Buildup trickle-down, Guam grads gravitate to NAVFAC jobs
As the economy on Guam slows, and the need for trained business professionals to handle the demands of the upcoming military buildup increases, local professionals and new college graduates are migrating in droves to an internship program at Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas.
Regional News
Century Travel Agency receives top honors
GARAPAN, Saipan - On May 7 Century Travel Agency Inc., an affiliate of Tan Holdings, received the 2008 Top Revenue Award from Continental Airlines for ticket sales
Guam rings clearer with cable project's completion
MAKATI CITY, Philippines - The completion of the widely-anticipated $550-million Asia-America Gateway fiber-optic cable project is expected to boost Guam's telecommunications services with Asia, North America and the rest of the world.
HUBZone MACC contracts awarded
WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has announced the 10 Historically Underutilized Business Zone-certified companies that have been selected to participate in up to $400 million worth of construction during the next five years under a design-build multiple award construction contract. The 10 HUBZone companies selected for the MACC contract are Ace Builders LLC of Barrigada; AIC International Inc. of Hagåtña; BME & Sons Inc. of Barrigada; Fargo Pacific Inc. of Hagåtña; Keum Yang Corp. of Tamuning; Modern International Inc. of Tamuning; Overland Corp. of Ardmore, Okla.; Reliable Builders Inc. of Tamuning; Serrano Construction and Development Corp. of Dededo; and Tumon Corp. of Tamuning. These 10 contractors will compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract.
Marine relocation on track despite Conway comments, Japan and U.S. say
TOKYO - Japan's Ministry of Defense has moved to quell fears that the planned transfer of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam is again in question, with officials stating that there is no need to reconsider the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
NMI files $10 M damage suit vs U.S. company
GUALO RAI, Saipan - For failure to rectify the deficiencies in the design of the Commonwealth Health Center Dialysis Center, a U.S. engineering and architecture firm is being sued by the NMI for malpractice and breach of contract in the federal court.
NZ trade group keen on selling kiwis to Guam
MANILA, Philippines - A New Zealand trade group is looking at Guam as a direct buyer of kiwi fruits next year.
Public Lands secretary mulls retirement in December
GUALO RAI, Saipan - Having been instrumental in bringing in close to $1.5 billion in direct investments, a Saipan official has declared his intention to step down at the end of the year. John S. Del Rosario, secretary, Department of Public Lands, has confirmed with the Journal that he plans to vacate his post at the end of the year to focus on personal goals, regardless of the outcome of the direct investments made by several foreign investors during his term. "Win, lose, or draw, I have decided to retire in December," he said.
Stanford professor is energy conference keynote speaker
GUALO RAI, Saipan - A professor emeritus of environmental engineering and science from Stanford University will deliver the keynote address at the 26th Pacific Islands Environmental Conference to be held at the Saipan World Resort from June 22 to 25.
Tinian casino permit hangs by a thread
GUALO RAI, Saipan - A Korean investor has six months to secure financing or risk losing his Tinian land lease permit. This is according to John S. Del Rosario, secretary of the Department of Public Lands, in an interview with the Journal concerning the status of the proposed investment of Neo Gold Wings Paradise Saipan Corp. which does business as NGP Casino Hotel on Tinian.
Marshall Islands considers cutbacks
MAJURO, Marshall Islands - As the economic situation in the Marshall Islands continues to deteriorate, President Litokwa Tomeing and his Cabinet have asked a 14-member group of private and public sector officials to recommend ways to reform government spending to deal with growing shortfalls in revenue.
Opinion
The regional economic effects of the military buildup
The unprecedented economic growth Guam is expected to experience over the next five to 10 years has caught the attention of our neighbors on the surrounding islands. How can they benefit and grow as a result of the $10 billion to $15 billion in military expenditure that has been announced? Even though the military's plans for direct investment in the Northern Mariana Islands will be a very small portion of the total plan, and no direct investment for Micronesia has been planned, there is a great deal of interest and effort in trying to capture a piece of what all believe will be a very big pie.
Gutierrez civil suit: No major effect on government agencies
Recently, a modest civil lawsuit drew an inordinate amount of media attention due to the notoriety of the parties involved. The suit, Limtiaco v. Gutierrez, made front-page news based on its findings that former Gov. Carl T. C. Gutierrez and former Guam Memorial Hospital Administrator Davina Lujan were jointly liable for reimbursing the government for the unauthorized settlement of a dispute involving GMH and one of its physicians.
Briefcase
Employers Council announces 2009 board
TUMON, Guam - The Employers Council elected its board of directors, selected new officers and welcomed its new executive director for 2009 and 2010 at its annual membership meeting on June 9 at the Outrigger Guam Resort. Andrew P. "Andy" Andrus has been appointed as the executive director, succeeding Bill Gibson who retired in 2008 after 30 years of service.
