Watts' Agent Denies Submitting False Information On Shipping Document
Guam - The Agent who submitted the information on the shipment of nearly $5 million dollars in Watts' concrete products from the Guam Shipyard denies submitting any information that was false or misleading.
In a telephone interview, Donald Thayer told PNC News that "everything was above board" in the paperwork he submitted. He called the controversy "highly political."
He declined to comment further and ended the conversation.
On Tuesday, Guam Customs acknowledged that their documents, clearing the departure of the load, are not accurate.
Customs Chief Ralph Sgambelluri used the word " deceived" to describe the inaccuracies in the Customs "Departure Clearance of Vessel" document which was signed by Customs and Quarantine Officer John Asuncion on August 13th.
See the "Departure Clearance of Vessel" document.
The document lists the cargo as military instead of commercial and it lists the port of departure as the Port of Guam rather than the Guam Shipyard.
Customs officials told PNC News Tuesday that the agent for Watts did not provide customs with truthful information about the shipment in question because it lists the cargo as military cargo. They pointed out that the paperwork submitted is used for commercial cargo shipments and it lists the Port of Guam as being the departure point rather than Guam Shipyard.
The Director of Guam Customs and Quarantine, Dennis Santo Tomas, told PNC News that it appears that the information provided to Customs Officer Asuncion by the Shipping Agent for Watts was not, in Santo Tomas' words, "done in good faith."
Senator James Espaldon, Port General Manager Glenn Leon Guerrero, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Guam, Captain Scott Galbreaith, and Customs Chief Sgambelurri officials have all stated that the cargo was commercial, even though it was destined for a military construction project in Hawaii.
However the principal concern of Senator Espaldon is that the cargo was loaded and shipped from the Guam Shipyard, rather than from the Port of Guam as required by law. Espaldon estimates that the Port lost more than $100-thousand dollars in Port fees because the cargo did not go through the Port.
Port General Manager Glenn Leon Guerrero has asked for an explanation from GEDA Director Tony Blaz. Guam Shipyard is leased to GEDA by the Navy and subleased by GEDA to Guam Shipyard.
GEDA Director Tony Blaz has not returned calls for comment.
A receptionist at Watts' Guam office referred all comment to Benny Watts in Honolulu. A message left seeking comment at Bennie Watts Honolulu office has not been returned.
Calls to Guam Shipyard seeking comment from President Mathews Pothen have not been returned.
