A Y2K status report, which was mandated by the terms of the Y2K agreement approved by the Legislature, indicates priorities for compliance have been established and backup measures are being developed for all critical governmental systems.
The report also said the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs had people on island assisting the government in meeting its goals.
The report was submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to the Legislature on March 11.
The departmental priorities for Y2K compliance are the Health, Finance, both territorial hospitals and the Police Department’s 911 communications system, according to WVWI.
The Finance Department has completed its evaluation and is awaiting a replacement computer system and software upgrade.
The Health Department and hospitals have completed an assessment and are developing a list of necessary items they will need to be Y2K compliant.
The biomedical systems are testing their programs for compliance and making a list of items they will need to comply.
Although an independent assessment has not yet been made of the 911 communications system, it is thought to be noncompliant and the Police Department has requested replacement hardware that will bring it into Y2K compliance.
The status report also said the Internal Revenue Bureau’s evaluation has indicated its current system is noncompliant. Officials there have begun the process
to replace it. They are modeling their new system after one that is already in use in Guam.
The report, signed by Turnbull, said solutions are being developed to assure that critical operations will continue in the event of a main system failure or if the systems have not been replaced by the end of the year.
The Y2K Critical System proposed budget calls for the following expenditures:
—- $3 million for the Internal Revenue Bureau.
—- $550,00 for the Finance Department.
—- $1.8 million at the Health Department.
—- $5.9 million for the hospitals.
—- $6 million for biomedical equipment.
—- $90,000 for a 911 communications system.
The Y2K task force estimated, as of the March 11 status report, the overall cost for the critical areas to be $17.6 million. Available funds are estimated at $21.1 million.
