GVB management creates committee to manage responsibilities while still at odds with board

Who controls what, when it comes to the Guam Visitors Bureau will be decided by a new committee established by GVB management.

At a Budget hearing Monday, GVB officials noted their new “Business Risk Compliance and Control Committee.” Management and the Board have been at odds since May 12th, when the directors voted to stop all further meetings until the policy is clear.  GVB Vice President Gerry Perez explained the pressing need for the committee.

"President Carl did this to address and clarify once and for all incongruities between GVB’s enabling statute and the bylaws because this has been a source of discord between some of the boardmembers with respect to policy and their advisory role and management’s responsibility and administrative role," he said. 

The committee members are GVB President and CEO Carl Gutierrez, Perez, elected boardmember businessman Jeff Jones, GVB legal counsel Joseph McDonald, and UOG Professor and attorney Ron Aguon who heads the Center for Public Policy on Governance, Ethics and Open Government.

"The ultimate goal of course is harmonizing our bylaws with enabling statutes and take corrective actions where required," Perez said. "We’re determined to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, there’s business as usual and there’s seamless execution in the approved plans and programs underway as you can see we continue to function."

Perez said resolving the impasse may require simple administrative changes or more substantive legislative changes.