Tenant critical of new night market concept

by Janjeera Hail

Plans for the Friday Ocean Night Market, an extension of the Chamorro Village's Wednesday Night Market, are facing opposition from one of the tenants.  Filamore Palomo Alcon runs the Guam Gallery of Art at the Chamorro Village.

He says that Ocean Night Market organizers planned to use the Chamorro Village as a test market venue for the first six months, after which they want to move it to Ypao.  The market is a joint project with the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Office of Chamorro Affairs.

Alcon says he fears the push to move to Tumon is motivated by the GHRA's desire to keep the tourists in the island's hotel district.  "If they want to do it at Ypao," he surmised, "do it themselves. Don't come down to Chamorro Village, [and] ask us to nurture it, grow it.  When it's a success you're going to take it away from us?"

Department of Chamorro Affairs President Sylvia Flores meanwhile maintains the Ocean Night Market allows for more vendors aside from those who participate in the Wednesday Night Market.