Previous Story
Guam water issues take center stage
|
Posted on Aug 26 2004
Guam Gov. Felix Camacho, other government officials, and local and civic leaders met with Rear Adm. Arthur Johnson and his staff at U.S. Naval Forces Marianas headquarters yesterday afternoon to increase understanding and find solutions to Guam’s continuing water problems.
The two-hour meeting was punctuated by frank discussion about Guam’s water system servicing areas of Santa Rita and Agat.
“It is important for us to understand the big picture,” Camacho said. “It is a complex issue that cannot be ignored.”
GovGuam officials attending included Guam Waterworks Authority general manager Dave Craddick and Consolidated Commission on Utilities chair Simon Sanchez. Also attending were Santa Rita Mayor Joe Wesley, Agat Mayor John Reyes, and representatives of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. Navy representatives included Capt. David Boone, commanding officer of Navy Public Works and officer-in-charge of Construction.
“It’s an old system that has overtaken us and we must deal with it immediately,” Camacho said. “GovGuam continues to work with the U.S. Navy, CCU, our village leaders and private sectors to not only address immediate problems with water delivery, but to find temporary fixes and long-term solutions.”
Problems that were discussed include the water service to upper areas of Santa Rita, Agat and Mongmong-Toto-Maite, as well as delivery of water to area schools. The group discussed the installation of water tanks at schools and respective mayors’ offices and expansion of GWA and U.S. Navy facilities. More details will be forthcoming in the next 24 hours.
Johnson said many problems on Guam were integrated and that it was important to work together with leaders on the island to formulate a coordinated response and enact solutions to lingering problems.
“Whether it’s an initiative with the harbor, national defense, or storm recovery, we always get together to gain understanding and capitalize on synergy to find solutions to common problems,” he said.
For more information, contact Lt. Arwen Consaul, Public Affairs Officers for U.S. Naval Forces Marianas at (671) 339-5207 or Erica Perez, Office of the Governor at (671) 475-9303.
