Barber urges sweeping changes at CLTC
The University of Guam's Dr. Bob Barber, the inspection program manager assisting with a review of the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, believes there must be sweeping changes to ensure the agency effectively carries out its mandates and becomes a viable entity.
By KUAM Newsby Nick Delgado
Guam - The University of Guam's Dr. Bob Barber, the inspection program manager assisting with a review of the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, believes there must be sweeping changes to ensure the agency effectively carries out its mandates and becomes a viable entity. During Wednesday's oversight hearing, Barber called on lawmakers to assist with pushing that an audit be conducted of land trust positions as highly technical positions, at the CLTC hasn't been filled in more than a decade when funding was stopped.
"The land trust is fragmented," said Barber. "You've got 12 people handling several hundred million dollars of land assets. How many people you have at Public Works? How many people do you have at Land Management? How many people do you have at DOE? This is your gem. I mean, this is the Chamorro people's long-term gem and we're not giving it any attention?"
Dr. Barber also called for Chamorro families who have been moved off land to file formal complaints with the Attorney General's Office. He explained to lawmakers that he's heard from hundreds of families who were moved after the land they were occupying was acquired by the Commission. Barber also stressed that the agency needs legal help in threatening eviction of six commercial lease holders that owe more than a half-million dollars to the CLTC, including one golf course that owes $300,000.