by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Things are about to change for lessees living on Chamorro Land Trust properties without basic infrastructure such as water, power, telephone and wastewater. The CLTC (under Department of Land Management), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be financing the water, wastewater, power and telephone services of many of its lessees. This follows a final rule by USDA under the Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA). The agreement that makes this happen is in legal review and will be implemented as soon as the review is done.

"This is something most people can't afford," Governor Eddie Baza Calvo said. "That's why one of our campaign promises was to find a way to get water and waste water services to the people."

According to a press release, CLTC will be borrowing the money at a low 2-percent interest rate to secure financing. CLTC commercial license fees are the repayment source, so this program is self-generating. The reason such a financial arrangement is realistic is that CLTC, under this administration, has aggressively gone after money owed to the commission, and is fairly levying its fees.

It is estimated that 3,000 current CLTC lessees are living on land without this infrastructure. One of the main reasons for the slow down of residential CLT leases over the past decade was that the Commission did not want to lease out land without this infrastructure. It's been the largest point of contention and debate about CLTC properties.

There will not be enough money in the pot to complete all infrastructure needed, however, this is a substantial starting point. The CLTC will work on one subdivision of land at a time. Its work will begin in Yigo so the agency can do its part to protect the northern aquifer from further contamination.

"Now that lessees will have a real and affordable solution to get infrastructure to their properties, there is real likelihood that residential leases can commence in earnest," Governor Calvo said. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 potential lots leftover for lease that need infrastructure.

The Memorandum of Understanding between USDA and CLTC should be ready soon. There are plan already in place to upgrade and maintain infrastructure throughout the northern part of the island.

"This is a step in the right direction toward enhancing affordable housing infrastructure with the CLTC properties," Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio said. "We thank our affordable housing partners for making this happen."