Domenech delivers $6.9M for Guam

HAGATNA—U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech and Office of Insular Affairs Director Nik Pula met earlier last week with Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex in Adelup.

Domenech was in Guam to pay his first courtesy visit to the governor since becoming assistant secretary and to deliver $6.9 million dollars in fiscal year 2018 capital improvement project and technical assistance program funding for the territory. Domenech met with Calvo again on Saipan with other leaders at the Micronesian Islands Forum last week.

“[Calvo] and I had some serious discussions about the effect that tax cuts are having on Guam’s people and Guam’s economy,” said Domenech. “[Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke] and I are both impressed by the austerity measures that Guam has undertaken in response to budget cuts and assure that we will do all that we can to help advocate for Guam.” added Domenech.

The fiscal year 2018 CIP funds are for the following:

• The Department of Parks and Recreation: $5,620,000 for repairs, renovations and/or upgrades of public gymnasiums, sports facilities, and restroom facilities, including plumbing and electrical repairs of facilities to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to include preventive maintenance work.

• The Insular ABCs Initiative: $1,000,000 for a fourth year of the Insular Area Assessment of Buildings and Classrooms health and safety initiative to address critical deferred maintenance issues throughout Guam’s public schools.

The Guam Department of Administration also received $248,000 in TAP funding for the fixed assets software & hardware upgrade project to resolve fixed assets single audit findings. This project will provide resources to improve reconciliation/reporting requirements for construction costs and to provide training for fixed assets personnel as it pertains to compliance with federal and state regulations.

While in Guam, Domenech also paid a courtesy visit on Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, Commander Joint Region Marianas. He toured the Guam Memorial Hospital, Southern High School, the Guam Power Authority Wind Turbine, the Micronesian Resource Center One Stop Shop, and other sites that receive support though the Office of Insular Affairs.

He launched his visit on Guam with a visit to the Great Seal of Guam Park and the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in honor of National Park Week celebrated this year from April 21 to 29, 2018. (PR)