Taitague: Shut the door on sweetheart land deals

 By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Sen. Telo T. Taitague, author of Bill 119-38, doubled down on her efforts to restore legislative oversight of long-term government land agreements in a public hearing on the measure on Tuesday afternoon.

The legislation was introduced in direct response to Public Law 38-1, which repealed a key safeguard that had long required legislative review of exceptional term contracts – high-value, long-duration agreements involving public lands and facilities. 

“Public Law 38-1 opened the door to sweetheart deals and backroom negotiations of taxpayer-owned land without any public input,” said Taitague. “Bill 119 slams that door shut and puts the people of Guam back in control of their land.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Republican lawmaker also cited the governor’s recent message on Bill 67-38, where she allowed the bill to lapse into Public Law 38-21 due to the concerns she had with the lack of oversight, stating: 

“The Organic Act vests in the Legislature the authority to define the procurement standards for airport concessions by statute, authority it has abandoned in Bill 67. While the Legislature may be willing to abdicate its Organic Act responsibilities, I am not willing to abdicate mine.”

Senator Taitague warned that without action, politically connected individuals could continue signing multi-decade land deals without scrutiny. “When oversight disappears, so does public trust. We’re here to put a stop to that. To close the loophole. To shut the door on sweetheart deals. To bring back legislative oversight and restore the people’s voice,” Taitague said. 

At the hearing, members of the public and stakeholders expressed concerns about the repeal of oversight and voiced strong support for reinstating legislative review. 

“Bill 119 puts back in place a mechanism that ensures large-scale agreements receive public scrutiny before they are finalized. That kind of check and balance is not obstruction – it’s good governing. It ensures that the public sees exactly what they’re getting in return for assets that belong to all of us,” former Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo, in written testimony read into the record, emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in managing public resources. 

“Exceptional term contracts often involve leases or agreements of substantial value and long-term consequences to our island. Allowing such agreements to proceed without legislative oversight invites the risk of decisions being made without sufficient public input, long-term vision, or adequate checks and balances. Bill No.119-38 ensures that these decisions will be made in the open, with the people’s elected representatives weighing in on matters that can shape our community’s future,” former Gov. Joseph F. Ada, in written testimony also read into the record, voiced strong support for the measure.

“It’s imperative that the Legislature reinstate its oversight over these leases,” said Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz in support of the bill. “It may not just be backroom deals. It may just be bad negotiating and you guys need to stop that and so I join the two governors in supporting the early passage of this piece of legislation. It’s imperative that you guys reinstate your oversight over the properties and have the hearings and approval from this body.”  

“I’m here on behalf of the AG’s Office, and our client the People of Guam, in support of Bill No. 119-38. This bill addresses the balance of powers between two key branches of our government. The Legislature has the authority, but more importantly, the duty to protect our People’s financial welfare,” Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan said.

The public hearing also featured a heated exchange between the bill’s cosponsors and legislators who supported Public Law 38-1. Tensions rose as critics of the law argued that the current law gives agencies more flexibility and eliminates delays. But proponents of the bill challenged that narrative, pointing to the dangers of bypassing the people’s elected representatives and removing safeguards.

“Public land is not a private giveaway. It belongs to the people of Guam,” Taitague said. “And we have a duty to defend it – openly, honestly, and with full accountability.”