|
"Hope restored!" Governor claims recession over in 2005 State of the Island Address
For the third time since becoming governor, Felix Camacho went to the Guam Legislature to deliver the annual State of the Island Address. Scheduled to begin at ten at the legislature, the Governor's staff promised a different address that would focus less on government and focus more on the entire island.
This year's Address began with a salute to eight men who were not present. Governor Camacho recognized the families of Ferdinand Ibaobao, Jonathon Santos, Christopher Wesley, Jaygee Meluat, Eddie Chen, Skipper Soram, Michael Vega and Steven Bayow. All were sons of Guam killed in combat.
After congratulating the new Republican-led 28th Legislature and saying the people of Guam expect change and cooperation, the Governor got down to the meat of his speech. He announced emphatically, "My dear people of Guam, I am here to report that hope has been restored! A decade of recession is finally over!"
Governor Camacho claimed in the last two years 1,400 jobs have been created, unemployment has dropped by a third, and the Gross Island Product was 20% higher in 2004 than in 2003. The Governor hailed his administration's accomplishments taking credit for providing new ambulances and police cars, returning property to original landowners and restoring increments and supplemental annuities.
Still, the Governor said there's much to be done. "We're not out of the woods yet," he warned. "We have come a long way to stabilize the cost of this government, and enhance services to you, the people, but we still face serious financial challenges." Among the financial challenges the Governor cited were paying tax refunds, paying the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Government of Guam Retirement Fund's unfunded liability, taking care of various concerns at the Guam Memorial Hospital, and an underfunded Medically Indigent Program.
While the Governor talked a bit about plans for the Hospital, he did not mention specific plans for taking care of the other problems. For example, when it came to the island's water woes the Governor did have a solution, saying, "Today, I am calling for the privatization of the Guam Waterworks Authority, in part, or in full." The island's chief executive urged the Consolidated Commission on Utilities and the Legislature to back him in privatizing GWA.
Governor Camacho closed his speech with a call to service and a prayer, asking God to unite hearts through love and to rain down prosperity and kindness on the island.
To read the Governor's 2005 State of the Island Address in its entirety, click here.
|