Transcript
The number of US military personnel on Guam is increasing from six to 11 thousand, as troops are relocated from Japan. At the same time the federal government has cut Guam's foreign labour force from 1,300 workers to about two hundred, which the Republican governor Eddie Calvo says has crippled the civilian construction industry and doubled house prices. The leader of the democrat majority in the Guam legislature, Senator Thomas Ada agrees the denial of H-2B worker visas has caused problems but he says the solution can only be achieved through diplomacy.
"To get to the heart of the problems that we need to resolve it's really best handled more in a diplomatic way as opposed to coming out right almost in a confrontational manner and saying, that's it, I'm quitting this game, I'll pick up my marbles and I'm going to go home. I don't know that's going to change anything because this military build-up is going to go with or without the governor's support."
The President of Guam's Chamber of Commerce Catherine Castro, says the shortage of foreign workers is a crisis, but she says the governor's backflip is not a solution.
"You could come to a point of being frustrated, and I understand that. You know we are all frustrated, we are in a crisis situation. But we feel very strongly that there are other ways we can tackle this issue, working together as opposed to shaking the tree."
Guam's member of congress, the Democrat Madeleine Bordallo said in a statement she's working diligently to restore the foreign work force and that she's worried the governor's new position may compromise other benefits.
"I share Governor Calvo's frustration over the strain the denial of H-2B worker visas has had on our community, but his reversal to no longer support the build-up is abrupt and may not immediately solve these challenges. Turning back now may jeopardize significant civilian infrastructure investments and the commitment which reduces the military footprint on our island."
But governor Calvo says with military contractors cannabilising the few foreign workers left on Guam, he had no choice but to say no to the build-up.
"Everybody saw this train coming. I have exhausted all means through normal channels, to the point where I waited for us to go from 13 hundred to 170 workers. Where I waited until we are now having a doubling of prices in homes. So the question I have for everybody else, how far do you want us to go?"
Meanwhile, an academic at the Univeristy of Guam says the Governor's new position could make him more receptive to other concerns about the build-up held by Guam's indigenous people, the Chamorro. Dr Michael Lujan Bevacqua says a community group is preparing to launch a lawsuit against the military for desecrating a sacred site.
"And I'm definitely encouraging community groups that have been resistant to the buildup or have had issues with the buildup, this now is the time to really reach out to the governor. You know if he really has this new position, how much weight is there in it."
Eddie Calvo says he's a proud Chamorro and a proud American, but the interests of the people of Guam are being ignored by the US government.
