28 Mar 2012

Guam contractors says downsized build-up may not affect dollar value

7:51 pm on 28 March 2012

The president of the Guam Contractors Federation says a downsized United States military build-up probably won't alter the amount of construction required.

The US has reportedly asked Japan to shoulder more of the cost of the relocation of troops from Okinawa to Guam, now expected to be fewer than 5,000 compared with the 8,000 agreed under a 2006 accord to reorganise US forces in Japan by 2014.

At the same time, there are fears that sequestration or deep, across-the-board-spending cuts in the US may stop the build-up from going ahead at all.

But James Martinez says although the US may cut back on less crucial facilities, local contractors are pretty optimistic that it will proceed.

"I think whether you have 8,000 or you have 4,700 the facilities for your training still need to built, no matter what size or the numbers that are involved. If you're going to need a firing range for these marines then you've got to build a firing range."

The president of the Guam Contractors Federation, James Martinez.