by Nick Delgado

Guam - An Inarajan couple is frustrated that access to their home has been blocked-off for more than a year. It's a problem the pair says has become an even greater safety issue for the youth in the village. Government officials say the reality is the couple's home is just landlocked.

Ling Baza shared with KUAM News, "This road has been here since I was a little girl, like back in the late 40's early 50's. I'm angry about it, very angry about it." Tempers are high for Ling and her husband David, as the latter added, "That's not going to go on or so long, that's just ridiculous to be doing that."

The two moved back to Guam from the U.S. mainland two years ago, and in January 2011 a fence was erected blocking the driveway to their property. The only alternative is for the Bazas to drive on a community basketball court the village youth play on daily, just to get home. "That creates a definite problem in that as we go through the court, you are always waiting for one kids or another to come out and be hit, so we are real careful going through there and creeping through the basketball court," David continued.

The fence was put up a year ago to block off a safety hazard - a dilapidated community center. "Perhaps the residents can feel a sign of relief once the structure is repaired and remove the barrier there that's keeping the center away from the public," said the mayor of the southern village, Franklin Taitague. He says funding has been identified to restore the historical building, but as for when restoration will begin he says that remains unknown.

"The residents realize that they are landlocked, and I know the law can authorize a driveway or public access for them but that needs to be done through their effort in so far as getting through the legislature or executive branch assisting in identifying a public access for them," the mayor added.

The property that the old community center sits on belongs to the Guam Preservation Trust. But Department of Parks and Recreation director Pete Calvo says the Baza couple's problem is unfortunately out of their hands, noting, "We've confirmed with land management that the actual access for that individual that is making the same assertion is actually to the top of his property."

Atop David's property is the basketball court area. For the time being, he hopes a portion of the center can be torn down so he can at least have proper access to his home.