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GIAA: Facility plan for SMA use still in development
A “critical piece” of making possible a facility for Star Marianas Air at the Guam International Airport lies with Guam Customs and Quarantine and Agriculture, which will oversee the facility’s inspection area, according to GIAA administrator and spokeswoman Rolenda Faasuamalie.
In an interview last week, she described GIAA’s role simply as “landlords” who help prepare facilities for airline use.
She said a dialogue and exchange has been ongoing in regards to Star Marianas’ interest in conducting scheduled commuter and on-demand services between Guam and the CNMI.
“It has been communicated to Star Marianas that a critical piece of making this facility possible lies with the Guam Customs and Quarantine and Agriculture—in particular regard to the inspection area and its operation and allocation of resources to process arriving passengers and cargo,” she told Saipan Tribune.
She said this project is ongoing in consultation with parties of interest to ensure all concerns are addressed.
The facility plan is still in development, she added.
Once the regulatory parties have approved the proposed inspection area, GIAA will consult with Star Marianas and other operators on the common use facility, she said.
From there GIAA will prepare a bid package for construction and renovation for this facility, and the successful bidder will be subject to the building permit process thereafter, she said.
Saipan Tribune earlier learned that the proposed facility is a vacant warehouse type space and rooms suitable for offices. It would need to be entirely renovated for Star Marianas’ use.
The timeline for renovation, according to Faasuamalie earlier, is “entirely dependent upon the consensus of regulatory parties to the design, and subject to the Government of Guam procurement procedures for solicitation of construction services.”
