Adelup warns not to bank on buildup

by Nick Delgado

Guam - NAVFAC may say it will announce a new amendment to the Mamizu MACC by July, but when the contract will actually be awarded remains up in the air. NAVFAC says that due to multiple changes that require various government approvals, there's no definite timeframe when the solicitation will be closed. 

Governor's Deputy Press Secretary Phil Leon Guerrero said, "It's been no secret that this buildup will not be continuing as scheduled, as we thought the buildup will be initiated in 2014. And that fact has just been compounded by the financial realities in Washington and the continued prioritize of resources in Japan."

According to Leon Guerrero, Adelup isn't banking on the buildup just yet and matter of fact didn't include potential buildup revenues in their biennial budget. "I think this is a wakeup call for island leaders to the severe financial strains that we all have to navigate," he continued. "So that we can responsibly pay all the obligations that we have such as tax refunds, vendor payments - and in the wake of this news we need to be more vigilant and conservative in our fiscal policy to make sure that the government provides the services the people of Guam expect."

In Hagatna, a much different reaction to the Mamizu MACC - news from Senator Rory Respicio. "What this tells me is the negotiations between the central government of Japan and Okinawa have yet to be resolved and this buildup is not happening in a way that some businesses here on Guam speculated that it would happen," he said.

Senator Respicio continued his push for Adelup to act on a law that he authored several years ago related to the military buildup, saying, "This is another reason why we should be speaking with one voice by way of the governor convening the Guam First Commission and so that when we get this kinds of information we can react to it as a community rather then having to react to it in a fragmented approach."

And while Respicio pushes for the Commission, Adelup continues its message of caution, with Leon Guerrero noting, "The Administration will continue to do what it has done in the beginning and that's being fiscally conservative and making sure that we are not counting on this buildup especially when there are so many uncertainties."