The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo announced that U.S. Ambassador John Roos and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada have exchanged notes pertaining to the transfer of the money to the U.S. government.
U.S. Navy Assistant Secretary Jackalyne Pfannenstiel is scheduled to sign the Record of Decision on Monday, Sept. 20, signaling the start of the construction phase for the buildup which involves relocating 8,600 American troops from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The buildup is part of the 2006 realignment of forces that Japan entered into with the U.S.
Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japan Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone signed an agreement relevant to the relocation of the troops.
The $500 million will be spent to finance at least five major projects on Guam: Phase 2 of the on-base infrastructure project in the Finegayan area which will cost $309 million; $42.9 million to build and design base facilities in the Finegayan area, including an administrative building, Marine Logistic Group headquarters, police station, physical training complex, enlisted dining facility and bachelor enlisted quarters; $25.1 million for a fire station in Finegayan; $96 million for a medical clinic in the Apra area; and $24.8 million for the port operations headquarters in Apra.
Sen. Judi Guthertz, chairwoman of the Guam military buildup committee, saidalthough the news was positive, “not one of them has to do with the civilian community — none of it is for the local government. The United States has still not made a commitment to fund any of the infrastructure improvements for the civilian community. They’ve committed to $50 million for the port, but it still hasn’t happened.”
Guthertz wondered if the federal government will address the funding issues in the Record of Decision.
“Somebody there in Washington needs to explain how this is all going to be accommodated without helping the civilian community prepare,” said the lawmaker.
Guthertz said she and her colleagues are adamant that the government of Guam will not underwrite infrastructure costs related to the buildup.
