Guam - The Guam Legislature's Public Hearing Room was packed this afternoon for a public hearing on Bill 485 that would allow the government to borrow money that would go toward acquiring, constructing and equipping facilities that would promote, and preserve the island's culture such as a Guam museum, cultural center and other projects that will benefit Guam's tourism industry.

Several people testified in support of certain sections of the bill, however Department of Chamorro Affairs director Sylvia Flores became upset after she was stopped from making a presentation on a plan to transform and expand the Chamorro Village and Paseo area.

Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz said he didn't want to get far field from the bill, saying, "I'd like to address the bond and alter you can take up this discussion at a later date."  Flores added, "But Mr. Chairman, I have shared this legislative body with you and you to no avail you the whole legislative body have ignored it, we have been talking."

Cruz said, "Now you have gotten absolutely ridiculous." Flores said she had not.

She added, "For many years the Department of Chamorro Affairs has been ignored has never been given any form of funding strictly funding for personnel so I would recommend that you shutdown the Department of Chamorro Affairs. 

Local businessman Al Ysrael also testified during today's hearing telling the Legislature that the private sector was already building a convention and cultural center for Guam without any help from the Government of Guam.