By R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

THE much ballyhooed agreement between a baseball organization and the government entity tasked with overseeing the Paseo Stadium in Hagatna was terminated last Friday.
An agreement between the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Guam Baseball Federation originally signed in 2003 is no more according to DPR Acting Director Joe Duenas.
According to a statement from DPR, on Friday Duenas met with the Guam Baseball Federation Commissioner and GBF Board of Directors to notify them of the decision to eliminate the Pasco Stadium Lease Agreement.
“”What started out as a win-win agreement for the Government of Guam and GBF has dissolved into 2 years of non-compliance issues, and 2 years of unpaid rent and utilities totaling $37, 141.20,” stated Duenas. ‘’DPR has done everything in its power to make this partnership work; unfortunately this cannot be said of our current partner.” Before returning to DPR recently, Duenas was instrumental in negotiating the lease in 2003.
Duenas said the termination was on the up and up citing provisions specified in section 12 (f) of the subject lease. He stressed “as a result of the GBF’s failure to provide to DPR a copy of the annual audited financial statements of the Municipal Stadium Operations Fund (MSOF) for the calendar years 2004 and 2005 which shall be completed no later than March 15th of each year.”
Moreover, DPR cited numerous failures of the GBF to comply with specific operation and reporting requirements outlined in the agreement such as the facility improvement plan, property insurance, trash removal plan, ground maintenance plan, etc.
Duenas said despite the setback with the GBF he is not opposed to a future lease agreement of the stadium with like entities. He stated, “Unfortunately, this lack of commitment on the part of the current GBF leadership has made it very difficult if not impossible for DPR to adequately oversee the requirements and controls of the lease agreement.” He added, “We have a great law in and we have a great lease in place, unfortunately we have a tenant who has not complied with the lease…, and has chosen not to pay 2 years of rent and utilities.”
The acting director added that the lease termination should not affect the current baseball season. Paseo stadium is a multi-use facility but is most often used by the baseball community. It is the premiere public facility for baseball on Guam. The facility can hold up to 5000 persons for an event.