Speaker’s Address: June 8, 2011

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This week the Guam Legislature and the Office of the Governor of Guam demonstrated that we are able and willing to make the critical comprises that we need so that we may arrive at a destination that benefits the People of Guam.

Granted, we may have started off in different places, but ultimately we were headed in the same direction of ensuring that your health benefits and our people’s government operations are funded for the remainder of this fiscal year.

As the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, I assure you that the debate we had on the floor was not just about a few numbers, and it certainly was not about politics. Our debate on the supplemental budget was about priorities.

The Guam Legislature shall continue to ensure that our basic government operations are not compromised, at any time and under any circumstances. At no point were your paychecks at risk. The supplemental budget was about allowing the governor to pay increased healthcare insurance premiums that were signed by the previous governor.

My dear People, I want to reassure you, as evidenced by our budget and all the numbers available to us, all agencies payrolls are fully funded through the end of the year. Our shortfall was in the health insurance payment. And of course, each time we come to an impasse like this, as your Legislature has many times before, we can rearrange our obligations— like we all do in our household budgets at times, when we have one bill due before the next— to make sure that the power stays on, that our people are paid, and that we can get the healthcare we need.

Governor Calvo and Senator Ben, I agree with you both. Let us come back to working in the spirit of inafa’maolek in order that we may not lose in our way in improving the lives of all those here on Guam. This requires that we communicate openly, honestly, and directly with each other at all times and when addressing matters such as this—however urgent and contentious. Let us continue in healthy debate and dialogue but always in a respectful and deliberate manner with the best interest of the People of Guam foremost in mind and at all times.

Si Yu’us Ma’ase for working to ensure that we sustain payments for health care, continue to deliver much needed government services to the people of Guam, and in budgeting for critical payments to our retirees.

Biba Guåhan!

Speaker’s Radio Address

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May 25, 2011

My Dear People of Guam. Buenas yan Hafa Adai.

There isn’t a person I know, to include myself, who is against a bright and prosperous future for Guam.

But before we rush on to any bandwagon that promises a brighter future for you and our island, be certain to examine the facts. It is important that we all know what it is we are dealing with.

The military build-up will bring with it a spike in consumer spending and an increase in jobs associated with the build-up.

But are the social costs greater than the amount of dollars infused into the economy? To best answer the question, the unit of analysis has to be you, the individual and then, of course, our community.

When contemplating the build-up, ask yourself: • How will it benefit me?

- Does it mean better wages? – Does it mean better facilities for me and my family? – Will my child go to a better school as a result of the build-up? – Will I and my family receive better health care?

And then ask yourself, outside of the home, how will Guam benefit?

If we have a hard time answering these questions for ourselves, what will you do when you find that for every dollar gained, we are collectively spending 2 or 3 more dollars for the impact costs on our power, housing, water and wastewater infrastructures, educating our kids, policing our streets and villages, and medically treating our people?

The Department of Defense itself has said that the costs of goods and services will rise faster than our incomes. Can you afford to live on Guam as a result of this buildup?

We know that influential US senators are looking to downsize bases all over the world and cut costs anywhere they can—not just the costs of this realignment.The fact remains, my dear People, that for hundreds of years, our island has been at the forefront of a Pacific defense strategy. We are the tip of the spear. If there was another location with similar topography, climate, and strategic location, the issue of the build-up would not have been or continue to be “on the table.” We have been and we will always be an essential part of national security.

Your elected officials, including former governors and legislators, have and will continue to fight for what is fair. This is because we acknowledge that the People of Guam deserve unequivocal and unapologetic advocacy.

We shall not yield in our fight for “Guam’s fair share.”

If the federal government anticipates an increase in the number of students into Guam’s public schools as a direct result of the build-up, we only ask that they also assist our local government in making sure that there are enough classrooms, teachers, and materials for all of Guam’s youth.

If they anticipate 20,000 more people to be cared for by our existing healthcare providers, we only ask that they help us provide enough facilities, healthcare professionals and medicines.

If they anticipate that we won’t have enough housing and that the rents and costs of homes will be too high for our people to afford, we only ask that they help us to provide adequate affordable housing.

These are examples of what we must demand as Guam’s fair share.

If there wasn’t a build-up, we wouldn’t be asking for these things. But this isn’t the case. We will have more neighbors. We will have more children to teach, injured people to treat, and elders to care for. If this influx is directly attributed to a U.S. military build-up, we ask that they pay their fair share.

Everyone wants economic prosperity. Everyone wants to do their duty. But not at any price. Saina Ma’ase.

Hafa Adai Tao Tao Guåhan.This past week has brought us much news, some of it good, some of it bad, some of it yet to be determined.

We have heard that the military buildup may be changing, and changing in an unknown way. This brought with it fear—because some on our island believe that without the buildup we cannot survive. They tell us that this buildup is the only answer to our economic problems. They say that we don’t have the drive, the intelligence, and the strength to build our own economy, create our own businesses and jobs, or feed our own families.

These are not the voices of our future, my dear People of Guam. Our young people are dynamic and are growing to become bright entrepreneurs and successful working people who are guiding the way to our islands economic prosperity. New businesses are sprouting up every day—the development of agriculture for local food production and export; affordable housing complexes for our local people; flourishing wholesale and retail companies; expanding tourism to other markets with an ecological draw, and even the development of a new state-of-the-art hospital in planning. These things are happening through the hard work, determination and drive of our local people who understand that we must do for ourselves if we are to thrive as a people and an island.

This Friday, members of your legislature will meet with Professional staff members from the Congressional Committees of Natural Resources, Insular Affairs, Judiciary, Financial Services, Appropriations, Transportation and Infrastructure. The staff is on a fact-finding mission to gain better insight into the transition of Marines from Okinawa to Guam in order to brief Members of Congress on the status and legal implications of the plan.

Your Legislature has been outspoken– from the beginning of this buildup process over a year and a half ago– that the prosperity of our people and our island’s future must be addressed. Schools must be built. Our hospital must be funded. Our infrastructure must be expanded to meet the

demand on our resources this build up will bring to our island. Your leaders must be advocating, unequivocally, unapologetically, for you, for our children, for the future of our island. We should be questioning any leader who does not.

The ever changing dynamics in the buildup process over the last several months shows us one thing—The prosperity of our island and our people cannot be contingent on a plan that can change so easily overnight, without any notice and at the will of unpredictable financial and policy conditions occurring all around us.

Our task lies within ourselves—to find our TRUE prosperity, and an economic balance that allows us to provide for every single one of us and not just the already wealthy few who will build their fortunes from the buildup.

The job that we must start now is a hard one—but one that is full of promise. We are at a turning point where we take our future into our own hands. We must each ask ourselves: What will our lives be in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years? Will we still be looking to another to feed us? Or will we rise to abilities, foster our resources and develop a future that will provide prosperity for our children and grandchildren.

We are a people rooted in the values of our culture: familia, respetu, chin’chule, inafa’maolek. We care for our manamko’ and our children before anything else. Prosperity for us comes from a richness of family and culture, and we know that we must depend on ourselves and each other to provide for our families.

This effort for our future will take more than just your elected leaders. We can mandate and legislate, but each citizen must take action and responsibility for our economy and its health. It must be all of us who rise to the occasion, because we, the citizens of Guam are the ones who will solve all of our problems.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Saina Ma’ase.

Speaker’s Address – May 4, 2011

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Hafa Adai yan Minagof na Oggan taotaoGuam:

Today I want to talk about a malady in our community that is affecting many families, most especially our youth on Guam.

Suicide on Guam is reaching epic proportions and we as a community must come together to do something about it. Data from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse reveals that Guam’s 2009 suicide rate is over 50% higher than the average US suicide death rates.”   

Last year there were 30 deaths from suicide– and so far this year there have been 7 cases, 4 of which were 16 year old teens. Guam has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita.

Right here in the Pacific– where we hold our heritage, customs and familial ties as sacred to our lives– the statistics on suicide are astounding. No, they are outright heartbreaking.  Those who identify themselves as Chamorro, Filipino, or being of FSM ethnicity make up over 75% of the total number of suicides in the past decade on Guam.

My Dear People of Guam, suicide is preventable. We as a community can help make that difference in someone’s life when it comes to addressing these tragedies.   It is clear that more must be done: we must build the awareness of this growing problem; we as community must develop a better understanding of this social ill; and we must identify more professionals who are available to assist in prevention.

 The top two reasons leading to suicide or attempted suicide are family disputes and personal relationship problems. For every successful attempt, there are estimated 8-25 unsuccessful efforts at suicide. These statistics are alarming and we can’t afford to let it go unaddressed.  In this case, it is a matter of life or death.

On my part, I called for a roundtable to ascertain the facts about what exactly is happening in our community and to determine where and how effective local and federal dollars are being used to address these issues.

Last week, I, along with Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr., Committee on Health Chairman called for a roundtable with various government and community stakeholders. This was just the first of a series of discussions about suicide on Guam.

We will be calling for an oversight hearing to be conducted by our Joint Committees that will require the responsible government agencies to produce a strategic framework, standard operating procedures, a uniformed and reliable communications system, and the necessary protocols to optimally serve our island’s at-risk population.  

I want to make certain that all of our schools have a uniformed strategic prevention plan that addresses the growing suicide rates among our islands youth.  The results of these meetings will be published and reported out to you, the People of Guam.

It is our responsibility as a community to address this problem, to put in place programs that help victims and to see to it that no one takes their own life or loses a life, regardless of the situation. 

So I ask you– if family disputes and personal relationship problems are at core of why our loved ones even contemplate taking their life, that you please– spare a moment and take stock in your family and your role in making the home a real safe haven, a place where you and those you care for may find peace, comfort, and refuge from external pressures and anxieties.

We must have strong relationships, with our children, spouse, relatives, and friends. Say something positive, be encouraging, ask questions. If you know of someone who may require intervention, please call 647-8833, or inform someone so that together we may save one more life.

And if you find yourself contemplating suicide, reach out to someone you trust. You are not alone. Call the intervention line: 647-8833. You are an important part of our community, and here on Guam, we take care of ours.

Si Yu’os Ma’ase, taotao Guahan. Take care of each other, and take care of yourselves. We are one people, one island, one community, and we must help each other to safeguard each of our precious lives.

Speaker’s Address – April 27, 2011

Hafa Adai yan Minagof na Oggan taotao Guam:

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The last two years have brought challenges that required us to respond, solidify our positions, and come together as a people. Your legislature has had countless meetings with Federal officials, from the Navy to the Officials from the U.S. Department of Interior, about the impending military realignment, unpaid Compact Impact reimbursements, war reparations- issues that are important to our People but remain unresolved.

After a disappointing snub last week by a group of U.S. senators who simply used our island as a pit-stop and summarily dismissing the importance and loyalty of our People, our island was again host to two U.S. senators this week- Senators Jim Webb and Carl Levin. The difference is that these two gentlemen were courteous enough to meet with your island’s representatives. The Guam Legislature met with the two senators this past Monday evening and I am most appreciative of this.

However, after so many meetings with federal officials, after so many visits to the nation’s capitol, and after participating in so many DEIS hearings and NEPA processes on Guam, with no clear return on investment of the People of Guam’s trust, time, and resources to show for it…

I was very candid and direct in posing my questions to them:

“What is your mission?”

“What is the intent of your visit?” and

“What is it you hope to accomplish?”

Their responses were surprising. Senator Levin, who Chairs the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, shared that he came to Guam to hear first-hand and  understand our concerns about the build-up, whether military presence was welcome here and whether the US-Japan realignment was feasible. Alarmingly, he also voiced his concerns that he too has not seen a master plan, nor heard of a completion date.

My colleagues and I were honest. In response to the question of whether or not Guam still wanted a build-up, my esteemed colleague Senator Pangelinan responded with a “Yes, But” caveat in echoing the sentiments of many of us at the table.

“Yes, BUT…” we require adequate medical and education facilities for those currently on Guam and for the countless thousands who will come with this buildup.

- “Yes, BUT…” we require that war reparations finally be paid for our manamko’ and

-“Yes, BUT…” we want our self-determination.

 Consistent with our collective position, Senator Webb stated that he supports the One Guam concept.  He even referred to his book published in 1973 that referenced the “forgotten Americans,” referring to those living on Guam at the time. He went on further to say that the issues outside the gate are just as important as those inside the gate and I couldn’t agree with him more! His second point was that there is a need for more dialogue between the military and Congress because this build up is not set in stone.  His third point noted the apparent shift in the local attitudes when comparing the generation of those who venerated America’s liberation of Guam  to those who are now critical of the US/Guam relationship. His fourth point was that self-determination should be on the table.

Senators Carl Levin and Jim Webb listened. Our expectation, our Hope is that they will take the concerns of our people back to Washington D.C. and tell their colleagues in Congress and in the administration that the People of Guam are not content, nor have they been for quite some time, with the status quo.

The message is clear: with the additional burden of providing a home for those whose mission it is to advance America’s defense posture in the Pacific theatre comes additional responsibility to mitigate any adverse impact upon the local resident population.

Before we move forward in anticipating the challenges of the future, we must bring resolution to the injustices of the past. The conversation with the U.S. senators was encouraging. But this much I’ve learned: there is no better sponsor in our prospect for a brighter future, one that provides opportunities for our individual and collective prosperity, security for our families, and proliferation of our island way of life than ourselves. We are our greatest advocates and defenders. This requires informed action on each of our part.

 Saina Masse

SPEAKER’S WEEKLY ADDRESS
April 20, 2011

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My Dear People of Guam , it appears that our diplomatic efforts and eloquent arguments have been fruitless.  To this day senior military officers dare to infer that the mission critical status of a deployed naval unit outweighs the livelihood of an entire people.  More so, 15 of the nation’s senators sent a loud message on the tarmac of Andersen Air Force Base: NOT A MINUTE TO SPARE NOR A GESTURE EXTENDED TO SEE THE FACE OF A PEOPLE WHO FAITHFULLY SERVED ALONGSIDE OTHER AMERICANS for the advancement of liberty, and freedom from political, economic, and cultural oppression.  

It is apparent that the inordinate passion for more power has caused for the parent nation to unjustifiably retain excess unused properties for decades. Further the United Sates dare to negotiate treaties with other foreign nations that have adversely affected our community.  Last the unscrupulous behavior of certain US representative cannot continue, without retribution.

Time and time again we’ve attempted to resolve our grievances through humble and peaceful means.   We’ve pursued every temperate and respectful measure in order that we may not compromise our attachment to the host nation, a nation founded on the principles of liberty, equality, and freedom from intellectual, religious, and political oppression.

I say ENOUGH to the trickery and snobbery of those who choose to turn their backs on the People of Guam.  You have aroused the indignation of the Chamorro People and all others who call Guam their home for too long now, and THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

It is easy to oppress and ignore those whom we don’t know, don’t see, or don’t hear.  But, with the pervasiveness of new media, the fact that Guam is a colony may no longer be the administering power’s best kept secret.

So I ask you, my dear People of Guam, to carry forth this message to your friends and relatives wherever they may be.  Colonialism does exist in this day and age for Guam and other territories.

Governor Calvo, after having been disrespected by those decision makers in Congress on our own soil, I say that there is no better time than now to call the first meeting of the Commission on Decolonization and the Guam First Commission to order so that we may unite as one voice, one people.

And, my message to the bureaucrats in Washington D.C. is this:  We do Exist and We Shall be Heard.