GUAM Education Policy Board chair Peter Alexis Ada keeps saying that it is the cash coming in that is “the problem.” (PDN, Saturday, March 10) So if a lot of cash comes in, the problem will go away?
We had lots of money in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s so much so that we got $5,440 and $1,000/$2,000 tax rebates courtesy of Gov. Joe Ada and chair of ways and means, Carl T. C. Gutierrez.
Whether times are good or not so good, one thing stays constant, the ability of elected officials to outspend one another to get popular with the people. Democrats will want to spend it on more personnel, typically, while Republicans will want to spend it on special contracts to give the appearance of ‘private-sector’ bias. And private schools should not be the beneficiary of public funds during these austere times.
If you say you pay taxes, so it should not matter, is it okay for FDMS to use “your” tax credits for sports-related activities? Obviously not!
The current cash crisis is the result of mismanagement, a lack of regard for fiscal accountability because winning takes precedence and being nice to party loyalists seems to be paramount.
For starters, the GEPB and chair must choose as the PDN editorial said sometime back between his Medical Referral business and his education duties because something is going to suffer. If the argument is that Vice-Chair San Agustin is there to pick up the slack, then there is no need for the ‘chair.’
As big show host Coffman stated aptly, “He, (Alexis) is a loquacious fellow.” And he is, but it is difficult to serve two masters: One the governor and the other his ‘district’, i.e., the people of Guam or the special interests that put him there. Remember right before the elections, there was a huge fanfare of job fairs. Orchestrated? Perhaps. How many folks got hired? According to those on the “ground,” like Monty McDowell, “we are still in a depression.” Who is telling the truth? Someone like McDowell who has no ax to grind (except getting his employees paid), along with other vendors at GPSS, or the machines that place Guam governors and others into office? Who has more credibility, agree with them philosophically or not?

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam