MBJ News Round up: June 3, 2024

Chain opens additional outlet in Agat

Pacific FROOTS has opened an additional location in the Agat Commercial Center.

FROOTS Agat held a soft opening on May 25 of the 1,000 square-foot location.

The store offers a variety of smoothies, shakes, salads and wraps, as well as a children’s menu.

Additionally, the restaurant offers in-store dining.  Prices range upwards from $6.99.

Additional GPA credits on the way

Bill 277-37, introduced by Sen. William Parkinson to extend the Guam Power Authority Prugråman Ayuda Para I Taotao-Ta Energy Credit Program, providing customers with $300 credit toward their accounts, was amended by Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas after Edward Birn, director of the Guam Department of Administration confirmed there is $46.2 million available in revenue from the fiscal 2024 general fund.

San Nicolas introduced an amendment to appropriate $31.66 million of excess revenue from the Fiscal 2024 General Fund to GPA, extending the energy credit program from three to six months.

After debate on the amendment, it passed with 10 votes.

Port improves Agat Marina Facilities

The Port Authority of Guam held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the $1.94 million rehabilitated Agat Marina Dock B, new restroom facilities, and CCTV cameras on May 29.

The work provides an additional 48 slips for recreational boaters and fishers of Guam and is the last dock to undergo rehabilitation, according to the port.

Funding included $500,00o from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs with the port being a sub-grantee to a Guam Department of Agriculture's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant and $994,750 in port funds. The restroom facility cost $345,000, the CCTV Cameras cost $107,800 and were both paid for by the port.

Leaders represent at SIDS conference

VIPs attending the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda on May 29, included U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Lt. Governor Joshua F. Tenorio and Austin Shelton, director of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, and co-chairperson of the Guam Green Growth Steering Committee.

The conference aimed to evaluate how far Small Island Developing States have come in achieving the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, create a 10-year plan to guide SIDS in building resilience and fostering economic development, and tackle critical issues faced by SIDS, including climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the burden of debt.

Tenorio was due to speak on the progress made by the Micronesia Challenge since it was founded in 2006.

GCA students graduate

According to a May 30 release, 31 GCA Trades Academy students received completion certificates in the fields of heavy equipment operation, core, heating ventilation and air conditioning, and construction site safety orientation. The ceremony was held at the GCA Trades Academy’s Tiyan Training Facility on May 1.

The University of Guam will offer masters of science in data science and library and information science from the Fall semester.

Guam AG’s billboard carries stark warning

A billboard erected May 30 by the Office of the Attorney General on Route 10a, also known as airport road, features more than 40 foreign nationals who are liable for deportation from Guam.

According to a May 30 release, the Office of the Attorney General has a program
to immediately deport alien inmates. “Prison sentences shall [be] held in abeyance and a local bench warrant will supplement the Federal ICE prohibition from returning to Guam and the USA,” the release said. mbj