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Bill would jeopardize progress with the Guam Buildup
December 03, 2008
Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D. yesterday vetoed Bill 378, which would unseat the Civilian Military Taskforce and jeopardize Guam's ability to prepare for the pending Guam Buildup.
"As written, this legislation would unseat all CMTF sub-committee Chairs and potentially impede or undo nearly three years of progress," said Acting Governor Cruz. "In that time the CMTF has produced Guam's comprehensive needs assessment, submitted a port improvement plan, the 2030 transportation plan and drafted our FY2010 submission to the Office of Management and Budget."
Bill 378's attempt to address sensitive issues such as the island's political status, the return of ancestral lands, Chamorro self-determination and war reparations has been the basis of Guam's federal policy agenda.
"These issues are of the utmost importance to myself, Governor Camacho and our administration, but their complexity deserves our full attention, and that is why our statutes created the Committee on Decolonization, the former Land Re-use Authority, and the congressionally empowered Sub-committee on war reparations," said Acting Governor Cruz. "Though I strongly empathize with all of these concerns, the CMTF must not abdicate its responsibility to plan for tomorrow, while we actively work to settle the sensitive issues of our past. Our community remains divided on the approaches we must take to resolve these longstanding and complex issues."
"The primary purpose of the Task Force is to identify issues and concerns that affect the overall needs of the island in anticipation of the build up," said Acting Governor Cruz. "We are all concerned with Guam's future, we all want to ensure the right decisions are made for our people but I cannot ignore the body of work already produced by the CMTF or its momentum going forward."
The Civilian Military Taskforce was created by Executive Order No. 2006-10 in April 2006 and is compromised of members from the community, Government of Guam, Military, Business community and civic organizations. Task force members meet at least quarterly, and subcommittees meet at least once a month and files a monthly report for the Governor's information in addressing civilian needs. Click here to view/download Bill 378 transmittal letter to the legislature. |
