27 Jun 2011

Not enough discussion of build-up's negative impacts on Guam say opponents

12:23 pm on 27 June 2011

A group opposed to the transfer of United States marines from Japan to Guam says there hasn't been enough discussion of its negative impacts.

The comment follows the decision by the US and Japan governments to set back the planned date of 2014 for the relocation of about 8,000 marines and their approximately 9,000 dependents from Okinawa.

The transfer is part of a broader 2006 accord to reorganise United States troops in Japan and its proponents say the delay will allow more time to get the necessary infrastructure in place.

But We Are Guahan's Leevin Camacho says there's no master plan for mitigating the build-up's social impacts.

"One major concern that we have is GovGuam is not going to get the $1.2 billion needed to build the new schools, to upgrade the hospital, to pay for new police officers. So we're going to have people moving to Guam and not have the social infrastructure necesary to take care of them."

Leevin Camacho says the impact on ancient Chamorro sites also needs to be considered more seriously.