by Lannie Walker

Guam - Joint Guam Program Office director Joe Ludovici is making his rounds visiting island leaders. Today he met with members of the 30th Guam Legislature. Of course Pagat was discussed during the meeting and Ludovici made it clear the historic village remains the military's preferred location for a firing range.

Acting Speaker Judi Guthertz responded, "Take Pagat off the table! You can't have it!" Lawmakers like senators Jim Espaldon, Adolpho Palacios Ben Pangelinan and Senator-elect Sam Mabini were also able to express their other buildup-related concerns.

Senator Jim Espaldon suggested Department of Defense allow Guam to develop land that is currently used by the military. "I'm wondering is there going to be that opportunity for the DoD to come forward and say we recognize we control one third of land on this island and we might even need more and this might even be one of the things we could look at take a look at some of the military property we control and you could develop it so that there is an economic benefit," he said. "Everybody keeps talking about the economic benefit, yet there really isn't any good will sign from the Defense Department."

Senator Palacios, meanwhile, made clear the role of the Guam Legislature, saying in many ways they will control how the buildup is conducted. "We make the law," he sternly noted. "Nothing is going to move unless we execute the authority."

Ludovici closed the meeting by expressing a desire to engage with the Legislative Branch of the Government of Guam more frequently as negotiations on the buildup continue.