"Restoring Faith in Guam's Future": Leon Guerrero says she delivers on her promises

In her second State of the Island Address, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero announced a few new initiatives such as plans for a new self-insurance plan, Project Atof, with which to address Guam's homelessness public, and plans for a new co-located Guam Memorial Hospital and Department of Public Health facility.  She also discussed her plans to address public safety and drugs.  

Her 45-minute speech focused on the theme of "Restoring Faith in Guam's Future", a commitment she actually made one year ago when inside the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna.  The governor touted how the government's finances have been stabilized maintaining her position that next month's minimum wage increase will go into effect - despite the Guam Chamber of Commerce's numerous requests to implement a moratorium on the wage hike because of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The governor said Guam remains coronavirus-free and the threat of Dengue Fever is over. Leon Guerrero adding that she is confident in her administration's efforts in protecting the island from the coronavirus, but also said that her fiscal team is keeping a close watch on the situation, preparing for all possibilities.

Public Safety and Drugs

The governor asked lawmakers to act on her Safer Guam Initiative sent to the legislature in the form of multiple bills several weeks ago. She also announced the upcoming launch of the GIVE program - Guam Immediate Violation Enforcement - a partnership between the Department of Corrections, Department of Youth Affairs, and the Judiciary of Guam to immediately provide treatment in a prison setting to drug offenders to break the chain of addiction.

She also announced the reopening of the Detox Unit at the Guam Behavioral and Wellness Center in the coming weeks, and plans to break ground on the first-ever Women's Drug Addiction Center, which will focus on mothers, as she said, "Because we know that the primary reason women leave treatment is to be with their children".

Self-Insurance Policy

The Governor said this will be the primary of her policy team in the coming year. She called on the Legislature and the community to start the task of ensuring universal health coverage on Guam through this system of public self-insurance.  Leon Guerrero says the coverage will be provided through existing provider networks and will offer comprehensive health services.

Project Atof

The Governor announced she will be launching this new comprehensive plan to not only connect homeless individuals with the services they need but to tackle the root cause of homelessness itself. The island's magahaga said she will be signing an executive order reviving an interagency council on homelessness, tasking relevant departments and divisions to coordinate services and resources that are most needed by the island's homeless population.

Federal Issues

Toward the end of her address, the island's chief executive discussed federal issues such as Compact Renegotiations drawing near.  With Congressman Michael San Nicolas in attendance, she said she would work with him on the issue.

The governor during her address said that the U.S. State Department made it clear that Guam will not have a seat at the negotiation table and instead encouraged Guam's congressional representative to communicate recommendations.

Leon Guerrero pledged to work with the congressman delegate on the "One-Guam approach" to benefit the people of the territory.

And while her local war claims payout is in full effect, she is hoping to close the chapter in Guam's history with the enactment of Congressman San Nicolas' HR-1365.

We'll have full analysis of the governor's address on a special edition of Group Chat streaming on Tuesday at 9am on our Facebook Live series Starting Lineup. Scheduled to appear as panelists are former senator Frank Blas Jr., Minority Leader Telo Taitague, a representative from the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration, and former senatorial candidate Will Parkinson.

Stream us live tomorrow and join what's anticipated to be a very lively conversation.