by Nick Delgado

Guam - Hoping to avoid another negative audit for liberation festivities, Senator Tina Muna Barnes has introduced legislation that would ensure the financial accountability of all funds earned by the Liberation Day Committee. Bill 57 would grant the Mayors Council of Guam the authority to appoint and maintain oversight of the committee, as well as require all financial reports to be filed with the governor and the legislative speaker no later than 60 days after the event.

Mayors Council president and Dededo mayor Melissa Savares says she supports the measure, telling KUAM News, "That will definitely give some kind of continuity with the liberation activities, every year we kind sit and wait to see who the governor is going to appoint or assign he task to take care of liberation."

Late last year, the Guam Office of Public Accountability pointed out in an audit that the Liberation Committee had poor recordkeeping, negligence regarding tax-exempt filing requirements and failure to comply with orders to establish a special textbook fund.