PSS-GBI settlement talks in limbo

Public School System officials have opted to discontinue settlement talks with Guerrero Brothers Inc. without the presence of lawyers from both PSS and GBI parties, after exhausting discussions on Tinian over the weekend failed again to yield a compromise agreement on the pending Tinian High School project.

Officials from the State Board of Education and the Tinian Legislative Delegation engaged in a heated debate with Mr. Pedro Guerrero of GBI, who reportedly would not budge to PSS’ offer that the construction company accept the settlement amount and release the project to PSS.

BOE Vice Chair Roman Benavente said yesterday PSS remains with its offer and will only agree to meet with GBI again provided the discussions will be facilitated by legal counsels from both camps.

Mr. Benavente said the board, after receiving “uncalled for” remarks from Mr. Guerrero, now refuse to deal directly with the businessman.

“Profane language is not welcome in these talks since the purpose of the meetings is to come up with some sort of agreement to resolve the issue,” said Mr. Benavente.

Negotiations will resume once Mr. Guerrero tasks his legal counsel to represent GBI in the upcoming settlement talks.

BOE has also requested the audience of representatives from the Office of Insular Affairs, the Governor’s Office CIP, along with the PSS and GBI legal counsels, in another meeting two weeks from now, targeted to finally end the long-standing PSS-GBI disputes.

The Tinian Legislative Delegation is also expected to unveil its own set of recommendations for GBI in the wake of a delayed campus construction that has caused strain among teachers, students, and the citizens of Tinian.

The ongoing conflict between PSS and GBI has hampered the school system from resuming construction activities at Tinian’s lone public high school.

The Tinian High School Phase I Project has been under the OIA-probe since its contractor, GBI, stopped construction to the OIA-funded undertaking in 1996.

The Tanapag-based construction company reportedly abandoned the project four years ago after PSS terminated its contract due to its inability to meet deadlines.

GBI, according to reports, failed to beat deadlines due to lack of manpower and resources.

The construction firm, now out of business, barely finished phase one of the three-phase $9.5 million high school campus.

The school system has already expended roughly $4 million on the project as of last construction work.

OIA earlier disclosed it has set aside some $5.2 million in fresh funds should PSS accept the responsibilities and resume the project with another contractor.