IBCM expected to pay CLTC $100K in back rent

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - International Bridge and Construction Marianas, Inc. is expected to pay the Chamorro Land Trust $100,000 in back rent. The payment comes after Land Management director Monte Mafnas learned that the company had engaged in in-kind exercises with the Commission several years ago to effectuate work of opening four roads in exchange for IBCM to receive rental credits for the property they were occupying in Yigo.

"Now when I came on board, I requested for concurrence and only to find out that according to the legal opinion of the Attorney General of Guam that only the governor has the executive power to revoke in-kind services, so I therefore immediately informed IBC that they have cease and desist that exercise," Mafnas said.

Mafnas says the company was notified it would have to come up with the back rent during last month's board meeting.  The CLTC meanwhile continues to identify those illegally occupying property including commercial squatters. The Commission has already collected nearly a million dollars in back rent.