Speaker's Weekly Address of May 23, 2012
by Senator Rory J. Respicio

Buenas yan Hafa adai, my dear people of Guam. I'm pleased to have an opportunity to deliver this message.

At the outset, I hope you and your families take any necessary precautions to protect your loved ones and your property during this time of inclement weather. Safety should be uppermost in everyone's minds.

I learn something new every day in public life. After five terms as your Senator, I admit that yesterday was no different because I learned that some people are unable to hear my message, no matter how plainly I speak. But those who know me know that I don't give up easily. So, let me say this as clearly as I can:

I support the Guam buildup, and always have;

The buildup doesn't belong to big businesses or special interest groups, it belongs to the people of Guam;

I believe in this effort because it will keep our nation and our island safe, prosperous, and strong.

I also believe that those issues that directly affect your families should never be discussed in secret. That's why I reacted as I did when I learned about the Guam United States Asia Security Alliance, or GUASA. A February 27th article published in the Marianas Business Journal states:

QUOTE: "Members of GUASA have been reluctant to discuss the organization with the media. A December email apparently sent by L. Carl Peterson, president of Money Resources Inc., to prospective members specifically said, ‘We plan on keeping this as quiet as possible.' Peterson, who sources have said is the primary GUASA organizer, and others, declined to comment for this story." END QUOTE.
Now I will always fight for your right to speak freely. But until recently, and due to its own desire for secrecy, the general public didn't know GUASA even existed. This group's continuing need for keeping secrets among a small but elite group of people, concerns me. I believe that we all want a Buildup that is good for Guam—and I can't imagine why a group that says they are dedicated to that goal, would want to form in the shadows.

There are 35,000 registered lobbyists in Washington DC, so why did this group pick a firm with historical ties to Jack Abramoff? That concerns me, and it should concern you, too. Remember, Abramoff fought for sweatshops in Saipan. And don't forget his effort to use corrupt Congressmen to influence an election in Guam. That was all published in the Washington Post.
In spite of this, I also agree that GUASA has an absolute right to hire a lobbyist to help them with the Buildup, and they can spend their money the way they decide. Business leaders don't need a permission slip from our community to talk to Congress; but they must realize that their voices are combined with others from our community, and the things they say can have a direct impact on our lives.

The governor is no longer minority leader or one of 15 senators. He was elected to serve ALL of the people of Guam, and not just his own special interests. The Governor is Chairman of the GFC. He should be inviting GUASA and other groups to the GFC meetings so we can reconcile differences locally, before sending mixed signals to Washington. The goal is not to regulate their activities, but to determine the kind of Buildup they are advocating in Congress. If we don't work together, the Chamber could help some while unintentionally hurting others, as one half is seeking a greater military presence to protect us from "threats" posed by China (as GUASA has stated), and the other half is working to secure a China visa waiver for Guam.

There is an historic parallel, when President John F. Kennedy lifted the security clearance in 1962, it meant that people from other countries could visit Guam as tourists, creating Guam's most important industry. The Chamber lobbied against the lifting of the clearance at that time, believing that in part it would jeopardize our security.

We all love our island and want to make it better, but we are not always on the same page when we should be. Every senator who voted for the Guam First Commission, including Governor Calvo realized that the buildup is greater than any one individual, any one political party, or any sector of our community. Six years ago, I was thankful to then-Senator Calvo and our colleagues for voting for this bill and even more thankful to Governor Calvo for convening its first meeting.

We all want a Buildup that is good for Guam, its people, and our businesses; we all want a buildup plan that helps us protect our nation while protecting our quality of life; but if the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing, and if our plans overlap or conflict, no one will benefit.

This is why I asked GUASA to join our community's effort on the Guam First Commission. I believe we are all united behind the effort to make the Buildup consistent with President Obama's One Guam approach. I am dedicated to that mission. I believe we should all work to unite our community instead of divide it.

God Bless Guam and all of our people. Thank you and Si Yu'os Maåse.