Guam News - Guam News

Guam - Friday was the inaugural meeting of the long awaited Guam First Advisory Council.

This council which was originally envisioned as a commission through a public law introduced by senator Rory Respicio is tasked with providing input on the planned military buildup.

Both the Governor and Senators have said they hope the legislative and executive branches can speak through the Council to the federal government about buildup issues with one voice.

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"Whenever you have a member visiting from congress or another congressional delegation this delegation doesn't have to meet separately with the governor and then with the legislature meet with the business community and meet with local rights groups and now they're forced to meet with the Guam First Commission at one time in an environment where it will be televised and so people can follow along with what was discussed and the media can monitor those discussions as well,” said Senator Rory Respicio.

The council is chaired by Governor Eddie Calvo who created it through an executive order after the attorney general found that the law creating the Guam First Commission was inorganic.

The council is vice-chaired by Senator Rory Respicio and is comprised of representatives from both parties of the legislature, the mayors council, the Philippine Community of Guam, the Guam Soroptomist, and various indigenous rights groups.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo was also added to the group. She was in attendance today and promised to send a representative from her office whenever she is off-island. The council plans on meeting once a month.