24 Feb 2012

Guam senator blames business community for inflating build-up hopes

3:40 pm on 24 February 2012

The vice-speaker of Guam's legislature is blaming the business community for fanning speculation over plans to move American marines to the territory.

Fewer than 5,000 troops are now expected to be relocated from Okinawa to Guam, about half the number agreed under a broader 2006 accord to reorganise United States forces in Japan by 2014.

A Congressional Research Services Report released this month shows that until early this year, the transfer was conditional on progress on a replacement facility for troops in Japan.

Senator Benjamin Cruz says expectations of when and how many marines would be moved to Guam failed to take that into account.

"I fault the business community and the realtors for the speculation because they should know of anybody, understand the legal definition/ramifications of something could a condition precedent. That until that condition is completed it'll precede what is to follow. You can't have something until that is completed."

Senator Benjamin Cruz says whether Guam wants the build-up to go ahead or not makes no difference to the US.