By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

THE Legislature is expecting Gov. Felix P. Camacho to outline his administration’s strategy to address the government of Guam’s financial problems, as well as his long-term vision for Guam when he delivers his State of the Island Address this morning.
“I hope that the governor will give us his immediate solutions to some of the acute problems facing us. I’m hoping that he will tell us what specific steps he’d like to see taken to address our immediate problems,” Speaker Mark Forbes, R-Sinajana, said yesterday.
At the same time, Forbes said he expects the governor to initiate “a community-wide dialog involving every one and every sector of the community to discuss what we would like Guam to become in the next 10 years, or even 20 years.”
Camacho will deliver his first gubernatorial address before the 29th Legislature when it convenes at 10 a.m. today. The event will be attended by senators, Cabinet members, judiciary and diplomatic officials, and will be broadcast live on KGTF. Today’s address is Camacho’s fifth since he took office during his first term in 2003.
Adelup declined to provide a sneak preview of the governor’s speech, though he is expected to reiterate the Republican administration’s accomplishments during the last four years and stress on the economic opportunities that lay ahead for Guam when the military starts expanding in 2012.
Vice Speaker Eddie Calvo, R-Maite, last week said he expected the governor to discuss the administration’s deficit elimination and economic development plans.
Minority Leader Judy Won Pat, D-Malojloj, said she is expecting the governor to urge the Legislature to give him full funding allotment control so that he can have more flexibility in managing the government budget.
“In the past, I’ve heard what the governor said he wants for education, but I’m not sure whether he knows what he wants,” Won Pat told Variety.
“He might say that because of the financial status of the government and the difficulty in terms of giving the allotments to education, I think he would want the Legislature to ease up on the tying of his hands so that the education department could get its money,” Won Pat said.
“I expect him to boast about what will happen as a result of the military expansion and the several projects that are going to take place and the moneys that are coming in. That concerns me because that was what administration officials said when they gave us revenue projections last year, but the money is not coming in,” Won Pat said.
The governor is delivering his address in the context of a paradoxical situation. The government of Guam is drowning in debt and suffering from a growing deficit despite reports of increasing numbers of jobs and the early windfall enjoyed by certain industries in anticipation of the Marines’ deployment.
GovGuam has been struggling to pay it outstanding debts, specifically the $123 million cost of living allowances and the Guam Public School System constantly faces payless paydays.
The Office of the Public Auditor released last week the financial analysis conducted by Crawford and Associates, which indicated that GovGuam’s financial health was the poorest among the insular areas in fiscal year 2005.
Camacho announced last week a major Cabinet revamp which he said keynoted changes in the government.
“We laid the foundation for tremendous growth and for the transformation our community must take in order to help Guam reach her full potential. Now, the lieutenant governor (Mike Cruz) and I are starting this new season by changing the leadership in the agencies of this government. These men and women are capable managers who have the passion to serve,” the governor said.