Welcome to the Office of the Governor of Guam

September 30, 2009
 
Governor Felix P. Camacho and Congresswoman Madeline Z. Bordallo are pleased to jointly announce that their collaborative efforts have resulted in the award of three new grants to the Government of Guam, totaling $3.5 Million, from the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), a field activity within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
 
The award of the grants is welcomed news, since they enable the Government of Guam to remain engaged, to sustain the Territory’s responsive efforts to the challenges and impacts from the unprecedented Department of Defense military build-up, and most importantly to shape outcomes that benefit and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Guam.
 
“I am extremely pleased to make this announcement to our community and grateful to OEA for acknowledging our need to improve and secure the quality of life for our people,” said Governor Camacho. “My administration has been diligently working to prepare our island for the opportunities that lie ahead. We understand our charter and destiny, and that now is the time to identify plans, set the foundation, and develop the roadmap for our island’s future, and that is why these grants will be used to assess and plan for some key areas in our government.”
 
“The grants awarded by the Office of Economic Adjustment will assist the Government of Guam in improving government services, modernizing infrastructure at the Port of Guam, and providing support for the military buildup,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today.  “I commend Governor Camacho for securing these funds, and I look forward to OEA’s continued partnership with the Government of Guam.”
 
The three new grants support a diversity of initiatives, some new, while sustaining some ongoing initiatives.  The OEA grant to the Office of the Governor sustains the Port Authority of Guam's efforts on the Port Modernization Initiative.  With the recent approval of the Port of Guam Master Plan, by the Guam Legislature, the PAG needs to transition from the planning phase to the design/implementation phase.  The grant enables the PAG to accomplish the following tasks: 1) Terminal Development, Terminal Alternatives Analysis and Operations Plan; 2) Performance and Technical Requirements for Truck Gates and Terminal Operating Procedures; and 3) Performance Management Contract Service Benchmark Development and Consultations for Evaluations and Selection. 
 
The grant to fund the Capacity Enhancing Building Initiative will enable the Office of the Governor to conduct an initial assessment, of the Government of Guam, evaluating its current strengths and weaknesses followed by pilot Capacity Enhancing-Building Initiatives (CEBI).  The CEBI’s objective is to increase the Government of Guam’s capacity via instituting best management practices/protocols in lieu of relying on additional resources.  This initiative recognizes there are finite resources and thus focuses on leveraging the talent, expertise, and professionalism of those who are dedicated to public service.  The grant will culminate in identification, selection, and development of initiatives that address systemic challenges and that foster comprehensive change, within the government, to be more effective and efficient.
 
The grant to the Office of the Governor will enable the Guam Director of Health and Social Services to undertake the development of a Five-Year Health and Human Services Care Strategic Plan.  With the progress and momentum on the physical infrastructure the Governor and the Congresswoman embraced this initiative to address the social infrastructure.  The grant enables the Director to conduct an initial strengths and weaknesses assessment of the health and human services care systems followed by the development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan to improve the health and human services care systems for the people of Guam.
 
The grant to the Office of the Governor continues funding for two staff members, within the Office of the Governor and logistical support necessary to sustain the Military Integration and Growth Initiative (MIGI), which enables the Government of Guam to be responsive to the challenges and impacts created by the Department of Defense military, while seeking opportunities to shape favorable outcomes that benefit the citizens of Guam.
 
The Camacho-Cruz Administration continues to seek additional federal grant funding to help secure the island’s economy, infrastructure, health, public safety and education.

September 30, 2009
 
Governor Felix P. Camacho and Legislative Speaker Judi Won Pat placed a phone call to Philip Maestri, U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) risk management service director, today to discuss issues related to a letter sent to the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Tuesday by the USDOE.
 
The letter focused on the results of a Comprehensive Corrective Action Plan (CCAP) validation site visit to Guam by USDOE that took place in July. The letter outlined numerous failures by GDOE to meet financial management standards regarding federal funds. During the telephone conversation, Maestri expressed that he is mainly concerned with GDOE’s management and accountability of federal funds and that USDOE must make sure those funds are being properly handled.
 
“It is clear that GDOE needs help with managing their finances and any assistance I can provide as governor will require legislative support,” said Governor Camacho. “I will support any measure that will provide immediate assistance to GDOE, including the idea of bringing in a third party to manage their finances.”
 
USDOE has given GDOE 15 days from the Sept. 28 letter, or by Oct. 13, to respond to their concerns. GDOE is expected to account for the department’s failure to follow through or comply with fiscal accountability and management measures. In his letter, Maestri states that USDOE will consider withholding federal funding from the education department and/or obtain a third party to manage federal funding for the department.
 
"The bottom line is we need to resolve GDOE’s systemic issues once and for all, but it will take more than 15 days. As we await GDOE’s response to USDOE, the speaker and I will continue to do what we can to assist them,” said Governor Camacho.

September 29, 2009
 
Governor Felix P. Camacho made the following statement regarding the United States Department of Education’s letter to Guam’s Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Narissa Bretania Underwood.
 
“The United States Department of Education’s letter to Superintendent Underwood is alarming but not surprising. Despite my lack of legal authority to assist them in this matter, I will place a call to Mr. Maestri to discuss what the administration can do to help address their concerns. This conversation will help me frame discussions that I plan to have with the legislative Speaker Judi Won Pat and DOE officials.”

 

Letter from the Attorney General to Mr. Maestri dated September 24, 2008 outlining the Governor’s lack of authority and responsibility regarding the programmatic and fiscal management and administration and implementation of grants awarded to GPSS by USDOE.