Agriculture asks senators to hold off on bill

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - It was Bill 111 that took up a major portion of discussion on session floor. But talks stopped just before 3:30 this afternoon after Department of Agriculture director Mariquita Taitague wrote a letter to senators asking them to hold off on their discussion. Bill 111 would create a Guam Invasive Species Council, the Guam Invasive Species Inspection Fee and fund and authorize the agency to establish a biosecurity division.

Taitague however, says the bill discussed on the floor was not the bill she testified in support of during a public hearing.  Senator Ben Pangelinan read her letter to his colleagues this afternoon. "We are not in support of the substitute Bill 111, as it appears it is a complete revamping of the original bill that was already heard some of the provisions of the substitute bill has raised some serious concerns that have not been addressed in the public hearing."

Lamakers decided to continue discussion on the measure until tomorrow when they will bring in Agriculture officials to hear first hand their position on the substituted version and discuss the evolution of the substituted version.