Babauta makes announcement during visit with Governor Camacho and his cabinet
Sept. 24, 2009
Anthony Babauta, Agat native and newly confirmed assistant secretary of insular affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), visited with Governor Felix P. Camacho, Lieutenant Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D., and their cabinet members today. After sharing his appreciation for both the government’s and island community’s support, Babauta announced that
$2.7 million of Guam’s 2010 compact impact grant funding will go to complete a sports recreation complex in the North.
“This exciting announcement will help complete a more than 40-year-old vision to provide our Northern community and the entire island with a sports complex we can be proud of,” said Governor Camacho. “Today we had an opportunity to congratulate Mr. Babauta, who has made our island community proud. We appreciate DOI’s favorable decision regarding this request, and we look forward to more of these announcements in the future.”
Babauta was joined by other DOI representatives including Nikolao Pula, director of the Office of Insular Affairs; Michael Block, staff assistant to the president at the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Angela Williams, Guam desk officer; Steve Sander, congressional liaison; and Jennifer Fang, special assistant to Babauta.
Governor Camacho sent a letter to Pula, then the acting deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Insular Affairs, on Aug. 10, 2009, requesting to use $2.7 million of the 2010 compact impact funds to augment $2.6 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant. In his letter, Governor Camacho indicated the funding would be used as follows: $1 million for moveable equipment for a proposed recreation pool; $900,000 to address the shortfall in the last two pool construction bids; and $800,000 for an exercise trail, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, lighting, etc.
Joe Duenas, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares were present during Babauta’s announcement.
“We believe keeping our kids busy after school and keeping the community healthy will lessen the strain on health care in the future,” said Duenas.
In addition to the above-mentioned features, the complex will also consist of existing gymnasium and soccer facilities and four baseball diamonds, which are under construction.
Babauta flew back to Guam last night for the first time since his appointment at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
“There is nothing like coming home,” Babauta said at the opening of the meeting. “There is nothing like feeling the warmth and the love of your fellow Chamorros.”
In his capacity, Babauta will coordinate federal policy for Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa with other executive branch agencies. He is also responsible for administering and overseeing federal assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
