A lot of residents from Yigo were in attendance. I was the first speaker to give a comment but yielded to Auntie Gloria Nelson. So she may give her speech. Our concern is not the Military Buildup as a whole. But the military wanting more lands for their use. Yet they already own 1/3 of the island.
The U.S. Marines want to build a firing range right next to the Nelson Family Compound and take the only Race Track we have on island. But they have so much unused military land that they can use but choose not to.
There were many young adults, veterans, military retirees, landowners who stood up and spoke out against the land grab. Many have stated that they are not anti-America, anti-military, or anti-patriotic, They're just anti-buildup outside of the fence line. The military should buildup inside their fences and leave the locals alone.
There were over 66 people who signed up to make comments on the DEIS. Some speakers like myself gave up our times so others may present their comments before the people and the military/contract presenters in attendance.
On the other side of the coin, there are some locals who support the buildup. This group are looking towards the infusion of Billions of U.S. dollars into the island. Also, the jobs that will come with the buildup.
What those people don't know, until they actually read the DEIS, is that the numbers being given to the local media are not the true numbers presented in the DEIS. Many of us have heard 2000 U.S. Marines at the initial planning of the buildup. That number has changed to 8,000 U.S. Marines and 9,000 of their dependents.
What the majority of the people of Guam don't know, is that there will be over 80,000 military personnel, dependents, contractors, and H2 workers coming to this small island in the next couple of years.
The DEIS public hearings are nothing more than a dog and pony show for the military buildup on the island. It's all marketing to make them look really good. It took them 5 years to write the DEIS and we have 90 days to review and 4 days to make our comments with only a 3 minute time limit. Isn't that a slap in the face to the Guamanian People?
Each public hearing, the protesters have gotten bigger and louder. As a veteran, I felt bad for the U.S.. Marines in attendance, wearing their uniforms. I don't have any animosity towards them. I do hate the decisions that are being made thousands of miles away to grab these lands.
Many of the comments were justified, although most will never make it into the final EIS. Since the comments didn't deal specifically with the DEIS. However the venue was setup for the people to speak out. I admired those who spoke out passionately against the buildup. I was surprised to see so many young adults standing up to be heard. Only two senators from the legislature stood to speak out against the buildup; Senators Ben Pangelinan and B.J. Cruz. Speaker Judith Won-Pat was there to show support against the buildup. Actually, the spoke out against the buildup outside of military property. They should stay inside their bases.
While I was there mingling around with the crowd before the hearing began. I talked to some of the Chelu's hanging around behind the gym. Many expressed it's time for the Marianas Islands to reunite. To much time as passed that our islands are still separated politically. We are one people on one archipelago chain. I listened as they explained their views to me in regards to that dream. I, too, would like to see that happen within my lifetime, The Reunification of the Chamorro Islands.
At the moment, we have to fight one battle at a time, right now.
Keep Smiling
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