Letter to the editor: Revolutionizing GovGuam’s procurement system

By Peter Santos

One of my favorite quotes is: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford.

For years, I have been advocating for a “preventative law” approach to the government of Guam’s operations and revolutionizing procurement here in Guam. I recently went on the Podcast of Rob the Innovation Coach and during that conversation, I told Rob that when it comes to procurement, Guam is past needing innovative fixes and needs to revolutionize our procurement system and fiscal operations.

To innovate means to introduce new ideas, methods, products, or changes to something established. It involves improving existing processes or creating novel solutions to add value.

Based on my experience in the federal government, I see many ways we can improve GovGuam’s system and make it even better than the federal government’s. I was taught and trained that when it comes to fiscal operations, it’s a “no fail” zone. This means 100-percent accountability and zero tolerance for fraud, waste, abuse or corruption. This is because we are dealing with taxpayer money.

I have met with many procurement professionals, who all share the sentiment that GovGuam’s procurement system and process is outdated, inefficient and lacks standardization, transparency and accountability. I have had discussions with old timers in the government, some of whom were around when previous procurement reforms were attempted. I was told there was major pushback for various reasons, mostly because people resisted change and held pessimistic views.

I recently had a chance meeting with a gubernatorial team. The topic of procurement arose. I was asked to explain my vision further for revolutionizing procurement. Before I could finish my response, I was bombarded with a bunch of reasons why my vision was problematic and wouldn't work. Both seemed doubtful of my vision.

I was not discouraged. It led me to request a meeting with someone who has been writing articles that resonate with me. Samuel Kim, a columnist for the Pacific Island Times, is very analytical about how the government of Guam does business and the myriad ways it can be improved.

Mr. Kim isn’t a politician and doesn’t write about abstract ideas. He doesn’t make promises for improvement without showing his homework. He backs his assertions and arguments with facts and data. I recommend looking up all his articles about Guam and reading them. They are eye-opening.

I explained my vision to Samuel, answered his questions, and asked whether, in his opinion, I was being overly ambitious and unrealistic.  Based on his prior work and experience, and his understanding of what I wanted to do, he told me that it is very ambitious but not unrealistic. Difficult, but attainable.

Attorney Jordan Pahlun, who, like me, is running for attorney general, recently wrote a letter to the editor proclaiming that our procurement system isn’t the problem. I vehemently disagree. Respectfully, Mr. Pahlun doesn’t have the experience and doesn’t really know what he’s looking at.

Senatorial candidate Joaquin Paulino Taitague wrote a letter to the editor discussing three procurement-related bills recently introduced in the Guam legislature. He astutely raised questions about the bills' feasibility given the current circumstances, but he also made some assumptions.

In his letter, he noted that the attorney general is inundated with numerous requests for review. That word “inundated” is very relative.

Prior to this AG, there was a full slate of seasoned attorneys who processed the request very efficiently and effectively. There is a severe shortage of attorneys and absolutely no attorney with the requisite experience currently there.

The impetus for the bill requiring legal review by the AG to be completed within a specified timeframe is that the AG has been failing to fulfill his most basic duties.

There have been unacceptable delays with real consequences to people’s lives. This situation exists because he has chased away all the experienced and knowledgeable attorneys and they have not been replaced. We cannot reward incompetence.

We cannot say that we shouldn’t make him do his job because of the mess he created. This is reminiscent of when DOE told senators not to force them to pass legally required inspections because it was too hard. Education Oversight Sen. Chris Barnett said, " Too bad, so sad, but you created this mess, you cannot ask us for a free pass and not hold you accountable.

So, going back to the AG, he’s not inundated; he’s just incompetent to perform his regular duties.

All this just inspires me more to step up to the plate. All my career, I have been given challenging duties, difficult tasks, and almost impossible assignments because my superiors counted on me as their “Go-To” guy to fix what has been broken. The guy who doesn’t need his hand held and doesn’t need much guidance or instructions.

Like Lt. Rowan in the story of “A Message to Garcia,” when there’s a seemingly impossible task that has never been done before, and with practically no guidance, he’s the guy everyone knows to call. That guy is me.

Whether I think I can or think I cannot, I am absolutely correct. When it comes to revolutionizing the government of Guam’s procurement system and fiscal operations, I respectfully and adamantly submit that I can.

Peter J. Santos is a resident of Yigo, he’s running for Attorney General in 2026. Pete is a former Guam Police Officer, Army JAG, Military Magistrate, Legal Studies Adjunct Instructor, Criminal Prosecutor and is now a Criminal Defense Attorney.