The clear message at Wednesday’s GCA membership meeting and swearing-in ceremony of its board members: We support the military buildup.
Carl Peterson encouraged other GCA members to join in a petition drive that he and Mayors Council members are formulating, called “Para Hita Todu.” Peterson will serve as the group’s treasurer.
Peterson said the goal is to collect 15,000 signatures from the community to express to the federal government and others involved in the military realignment that Guam supports the military buildup.
Newly sworn-in GCA Board Chairman Bill Beery also encouraged GCA members to participate in the petition drive. “We need to get a positive spin on everything that’s going on and let the world know that Guam really is a good place to spend money,” Beery said.
Beery said he’s optimistic that the much-anticipated, much-talked about military buildup has already begun. This is demonstrated by the $1 billion in federal funds the Department of Defense has already begun infusing into the Guam community, Beery said.
The funds, Beery added, are going towards SRM, or sustainability, repair and maintenance projects.
“We want to encourage a collaboration between small business and large business. This whole island is probably 98 percent small business and our large business is of course very supportive whenever they can be, and it’s so important that we get the information out of all the things going on so that we can all participate,” Beery said.
Beery further mentioned that the focus should now be on “what’s happening” instead of “what’s not happening.”
“Everybody keeps saying, ‘maybe they’re waiting for the Marines’ … we think it has slowed down but we think that’s a good thing for Guam because it gives local companies more opportunities,” said Beery.
