In perpetual campaign mode: What do Guam politicians actually accomplish?

By Lee Webber

The elected officials in the government of Guam are always saying that the children are our future, health care and education are their priorities and that honesty in government is what they believe should be the hallmark of elected and appointed officials.

However, do they really mean it, or are they just saying what they believe the electorate wants to hear so they can keep their jobs?

Look around and see the terrible conditions of the island's public hospital and schools, then ask yourself if those officials were lying or if they believe the island's voters are actually that stupid.

Then go around the island and ask pregnant mothers how many of them can avail themselves of proper prenatal care during their pregnancies, and the shock will run even deeper.

Again, you need to seriously doubt the truth of the claims being made by elected and appointed representatives.

I have always found that most folks on Guam are far from being stupid, but with so many people working within the government, they fear for their employment if they criticize the government’s current elected and appointed officials.

As an aside, if you honestly believe all of the elected and appointed officials who make those claims, I have some barrier property on Goat Island to sell you.

When was the last time you listened to elected and appointed officials tell you they were going to fix Guam Memorial Hospital or the Department of Education?

Have any of them seriously and earnestly invested the time and effort to make that a reality?

The answer is simple: no, they have not. They only pay lip service and know voters will forget, so they can continue to leech off that big cow called GovGuam.

When was the last time you heard about the rebuilding of Simon Sanchez School in Yigo? I believe it has been 12 years since elected officials allowed that process to wallow in the muck while our young people shifted their education time between other schools that were equally in poor to borderline condition.

When will the people of Guam wake up and hold elected representatives' feet to the fire, demanding that they deliver on their promises? Alternatively, these officials should consider leaving office and working in the private sector for a living, just like the rest of the population.

Add to this the federal criminal case against Lt. Gov. Tenorio’s family members, who were allegedly operating their businesses out of his residence. The word "corruption" takes on an even more sinister meaning. It may also open the door for others to become involved in similar activities.

Given the growing size of the Sinahi replicas hanging around the necks of male members of the Guam legislature, could the weight of them be harming the nerve signals from their grey matter to their voice boxes?

It's really time to make Guam great again!

Esta.

 Lee Webber is the former publisher of the Pacific Daily News, Honolulu Advertiser, president of Gannett Pacific and Asia area manager for USA Today international.

Subscribe to

our digiral

monthly edition