New Customs officers to help secure Guam borders

The 36 new officers of the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency who recently graduated will augment existing forces at the island’s ports of entry.

“These 36 officers will be instrumental in responding to the threats we meet at our borders each day,” said CQA Director Ike Peredo.

Graduates of the 13th Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency Training Cycle process into the ballroom during their graduation ceremony at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort on Nov. 29. Photo courtesy Guam Customs and Quarantine

According to agency officials, the officers will help “safeguard our island daily through the screening of passengers” at the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority, Port Authority of Guam, U.S. Postal Service Main Facility, Andersen Air Force Base, Agat Marina, and additional sites.

They’ll assist with the interdiction of drugs, pests, diseases, bioterrorism, terrorists, criminals, counterfeit and potentially harmful goods; and import entry processing in the legitimate facilitation of trade, commerce, and travel.

A graduation ceremony was held for the 13th CQA Training Cycle during a ceremony held on Nov. 29 at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.

This cycle is CQA’s largest since its first and second cycles in 1995 and 1997, respectively. CQA now has 142 sworn officers, marking the most officers in nearly a decade, according to the press release. mbj

Palau moves into implementation phase on long-awaited hospital relocation

KOROR, Palau — More than three decades after it was built, Palau’s only hospital is firmly on a path toward replacement. President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. convened the first meeting of the Belau National Hospital Relocation Steering Committee on May 14, marking the start of what officials are calling the implementation phase of a project that many say is long overdue.

New Customs officers to help secure Guam borders