“This road is more than pavement, it represents what we are willing to accept.”

A student at George Washington High School spoke out in a short essay titled, “The Culture of Blame,” detailing the difficulties of advocating for the main access road to the Mangilao school to be properly fixed.

GW Senior, Genesis Babauta, says requests for nearly nine months have yielded no meaningful and permanent fix.

“For nine months we’ve just been told over and over again — we’re working on it, it’s coming soon, things are happening, and yet, over and over again, it’s just gravel being poured there, just a temporary fix so that it’s not as bad,” said Babauta in his essay.

Babauta says the issue isn’t just a minor inconvenience, it puts student safety in jeopardy, as the road remains uneven and floods when it rains.

Babauta says the issue also paints a greater picture about accountability, as “small” problems of this nature often boil over into bigger issues.

“If we can’t fix the small problems that we have already, what more can we fix the big problems? What more our hospital, what more our economy, what more the political status of the island,” added Babauta. “This road is more than a road, it’s not just about getting the road fixed, it’s for the respect of the community, respect of the future students of Guam, respect for the school. When will it change? Who is going to be the one to be the mature person, the leader, the public servant, and help out, answer our cry for help.”

Meantime, KUAM reached out to the Guam Department of Education for comment on the matter.

GDOE Public Information Officer Damen Borja said, “Due to financial constraints, GDOE is unable to assist directly in the matter, but through the governor's office and DPW, a plan is being constructed to help pave the roads for GW.”

KUAM reached out to the Office of the Governor for comment.