Former JGPO director takes aim at senators

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Guam lawmakers got a surprising message in their inbox this morning: a copy of an email written by former Joint Guam Program Office director John Jackson taking aim at senators more specifically what he referred to as the "Fab Five".

"It's its amazing of course you can't keep any secrets here on Guam," said Speaker Judi Won Pat. And with that, the cat's out of the bag. "So I was able to get a copy of it," she said. She's talking about a copy of Jackson's email, the former head of JGPO. The office is tasked with overseeing the Marines relocation from Okinawa to Guam.

The retired Marine Corps colonel sent an email dated February 26 to undisclosed recipients in which he implies the turning point in political support in Washington, DC for the buildup came after Senators Carl Levin and Jim Webb visited Guam and the Legislature last April. Jackson wrote "During that meeting the 'Fab Five' and several other Guam legislators, harangued Senators Levin and Webb about why the Department of Defense should pay for all the island's woes, there should be no firing ranges on Guam, and that the people were solidly against the buildup.

"I think Mr. Jackson should examine himself. And what his motive is in terms of actually putting out a statement like this," she said.

The email goes on to state that Levin and Webb left Guam with the seeds planted that this buildup was in the wrong place at the wrong time and in a place where the people did not want it. Jackson wrote there's plenty of blame to go around but Won Pat, B.J. Cruz, Judy Guthertz , Rory Respicio and Ben Pangelinan deserve much of the credit for allowing the wheels to come off the cart.

"I think colonel Jackson is really out of line," said Guthertz. Like Speaker Won Pat, Guthertz, who chairs the Guam Buildup Committee finds its disingenuous of Jackson who worked with island leaders on the various buildup issues for several years that he would issue statements like that considering he wasn't even at the meeting with the two U.S. lawmakers. "I was there and I know what was said," she said.

Guthertz saying she and her colleagues did what they were supposed to do in ensuring the island is prepared, specifically its infrastructure to handle the increase in population. "Everything we do is trying to be constructive," she said. "Whatever buildup we have on Guam will be a buildup that will benefit all the people that call Guam home, both civilian and military."

Minority Leader Frank Blas Jr. also attended that meeting, saying, "It was the body being concerned that the cost of the buildup doesn't fall entirely on the people of Guam. I think that's a fair concern to be able to raise."

All the senators that attended the meeting with Levin and Webb said they supported the buildup. Won Pat and Guthertz can only speculate the motive behind Jackson's comments. "People off-island who are looking to Guam you know to profit from this military buildup and these are both big businesses from off-island and this is also from military personnel who have since retired knowing exactly how lucrative this whole venture could be," said Won Pat.

In the meantime, Jackson doesn't just take aim at senators  he also lays some of the blame on the controversy over the Pagat issue and what he referred to as the "We Are Guahan" types who hijacked  the buildup for their own special purposes". Funding for the buildup is currently frozen until the DOD meets certain criteria such as submitting a master plan to Congress.

 

• READ JOHN JACKSON'S EMAIL