Month: May 2019

Terlaje insists that preserving our historic sites and artifacts in place must be the priority

 FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 24, 2019 – Hagåtña) 

Senator Therese Terlaje reiterated her concerns during the two day annual Programmatic Agreement workshop that the avoidance of adverse impacts to historic sites is not being fully achieved and instead the “data recovery” which is the removal of a sampling of archaeologically relevant material (i.e. latte, lusong, earth ovens, pottery pieces, etc.), is often the option being utilized for several important historic sites. This includes the Northwest Field live fire training range location on the plateau above to Ritidian/Litekyan, where over 100 historic sites have been discovered and 14 will not be protected.  

Senator Terlaje implored the DOD officials during the meeting to preserve the historic properties as they are, in their place and together with the landscape, for  people to experience in person and for future technology to help us decipher the history of the Chamorro people. She also advocated that historic sites adjacent to Ritidian and Finegayan near the proposed construction areas be prioritized to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Properties, such as the the entire archeological district near Pugua Point, Double Reef and Finegayan. Guam’s SHPO has recommended this whole area be nominated to the Register but it was rejected. SHPO again asked it be reconsidered as a traditional cultural property (TCP) for preservation because of its significance with at least 17 historic properties.  

“These PA meetings remind us that the Navy is not required to avoid historic sites in their construction. The DOD may clear and grade and bulldoze these properties regardless of historic significance, when their construction plans require it. Pursuant to the Agreement, some but not all artifacts are removed from the site and stored in bags and boxes for our children, but the Navy is not obligated to preserve for us the ability to stand next to a lusong and look at the cliff, ocean, and surroundings and imagine why our ancestors chose that location to live.  We cannot put an earth oven in a museum and fully appreciate that it was made from the earth and literally built into the earth. These historic and cultural sites are the last remnants of our story as a Chamorro people and must be preserved within the cultural landscape of our island to provide more depth and a better understanding of our ancestors,” Terlaje states. 

Updates were also provided at this year’s annual workshop meeting on the Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field near Ritidian. Clearing of vegetation, including the cutting down and uprooting of trees has begun in the last few weeks as DOD continues to move forward with clearing of some of Guam’s pristine limestone forests. Already, new discoveries of dense artifacts including at least 400 pieces of pottery pieces have been uncovered in the short time that clearing has started.  

Senator Terlaje has sent several letters over the last three years to the previous Governor and today to the current Governor detailing her concerns with the Programmatic Agreement, requesting for a halt of the clearing and construction where historic properties and limestone forest habitat will be impacted. She will continue to urge Adelup and DOD to use all resources available to stop any further destruction of our ancient villages, cultural sites and limestone forests and revisit the timeline and “data recovery” plan that is in place for the historic properties adjacent to Ritidian before further clearing is done. 

For the third consecutive year, at the invitation of the State Historic Preservation Office, Senator Therese Terlaje attended the Annual Guam Programmatic Agreement (PA) Workshop. This was the 7th annual PA Workshop hosted by the Department of Defense, pursuant to the 2011 Programmatic Agreement relative to historic properties affected by DOD buildup projects, with PA signatories, various leaders from the DOD regional command, representatives from the Governor’s office and members of the 35th Guam Legislature.

Source: Pacific Daily News

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2019/05/23/guam-camp-blaz-us-military-asia-pacific/1200366001/

A ‘rough road’ as military buildup projects are in ‘full force’

Anumita Kaur, Pacific Daily News Published 1:58 a.m. ChT May 24, 2019 | Updated 11:47 a.m. ChT May 24,

Members from the military, State Historic Preservation Office, Guam Preservation Trust, senate and governor's office met Thursday at the Guam Museum for the seventh annual 2011 Programmatic Agreement workshop.

Members from the military, State Historic Preservation Office, Guam Preservation Trust, senate and governor’s office met Thursday at the Guam Museum for the seventh annual 2011 Programmatic Agreement workshop. (Photo: Anumita Kaur/PDN)

Four military projects that may impact the island’s historical sites are well underway, Marine Corps Activity Guam said Thursday, and Guam leaders are concerned about protecting the island’s history.

Construction has started on three of the projects, and will start on the fourth soon, military representatives told community leaders at a workshop Thursday. Artifacts have been uncovered during construction at all four sites. 

The projects are part of the military buildup, in which as many as 5,000 Marines from Okinawa and elsewhere will be transferred to a new base — Camp Blaz — as part of a larger realignment of U.S. military forces in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Changing or halting construction? Military calls it ‘unlikely.’

Lynda Aguon, division supervisor with State Historic Preservation Office, and Sens. Therese Terlaje and Kelly Marsh posed the possibility of changing construction plans or preserving historic discoveries on-site based on the inadvertent discoveries. Data recovery is not enough, they said. 

“We don’t want just the data,” Terlaje said. “We want the historical sites.” 

Aguon asked if there is criteria to halt construction altogether. 

“We keep discovering things, we keep discovering things,” Aguon said. “Can’t we just stop?” 

This is unlikely, the military said, due to the pressing needs of the buildup.

“Will we preserve in place for latte shards from a pot that was dropped? That’s not going to happen because I know the ranges have to be where they are, and that’s not going to force us to reconsider this,” said Al Borja, an environmental director with Marine Corps Activity Guam. “It’s not that preservation in place is impossible, but if it affects something as important as the firing lanes and the configuration of the range, I would say it’s very unlikely that we’ll preserve it in place.” 

‘Coming full force’

“I have to say, 2018, 2019 has been a rough road,” Aguon said. “The projects have been slow in the beginning, but now they’re just coming full force.”

Members from the military, State Historic Preservation Office, Guam Preservation Trust, senate and governor’s office met Thursday at the Guam Museum for the seventh annual 2011 Programmatic Agreement workshop. The buildup agreement identifies historical properties, explores the military’s potential effects on them and lays guidelines to mitigate these effects. It will remain in effect for the duration of the build-up.

“We need to continue to preserve what we have left,” Aguon said. “Preserving every little ounce, every little bit of our indigenous people that provided to this land, gave to this island, must be preserved in any way, shape or form.” 

Guam State Historic Preservation Officer and staff inspected the area where lusong and latte from ancient Chamoru village Magua' were relocated, on Nov. 7, 2018.

Guam State Historic Preservation Officer and staff inspected the area where lusong and latte from ancient Chamoru village Magua’ were relocated, on Nov. 7, 2018. (Photo: Courtesy of State Historic Preservation Office)

The four major projects that may disrupt historic sites are:

  • the construction of the central Marine Corps base in Dededo;
  • construction of the live-fire training range complex at Northwest Field and Ritidian;
  • water well development at Andersen Air Force Base near Potts Junction on Route 3; and
  • construction of an urban combat training at Andersen South.  

The four sites will be continuously monitored by two archaeologists on-staff with Marine Corps Activity Guam. As per the agreement, any discovery halts work and Historic Preservation is notified, the military said. 

In total, 12 buildup projects are complete. Eight projects are currently under construction. Eleven projects are pending construction. 

Vegetation cleared, most ground work complete

The construction of the base in Dededo, referred to as project J-001B, is the furthest moved along project among these. Most vegetation is cleared and the majority of the initial ground disturbance is complete, the military said.

Two sites, totaling about three acres, on this project were identified during military construction to contain historic artifacts. Archaeological data recovery, to preserve found artifacts, was performed at the first site in January this year. The second site remains fenced off from construction activity, pending further archaeological investigation.

In addition to the two sites identified, the ancient Magua’ village is on the project’s land. News of the military clearing the site of the ancient village Magua’ stirred controversy in October 2018; however, military work continued, with officials stating that found artifacts were secured, but preserving the site itself would impede Marine relocation. 

Other projects’ progress

Crews are currently removing vegetation at the live-fire training range complex project at Northwest Field, referred to as P-715. 

The vegetation removal did uncover Latte Period ceramic scatter, the military said. A contract to provide data recovery on the site was being finalized as of last month. 

The water well development project, known as P-103, no longer conflicts with historic properties, the military said. The project, on Route 3 by Potts Junction, was adjusted due to the discovery of lusong, or ancient mortars. The project’s construction has continued, which entails 65.1 acres of property and the construction of six water wells. 

The fourth project, referred to as J-755, discussed at Thursday’s meeting has not begun ground-disturbing activities. The project is for an urban combat training facility at Andersen South. Construction will begin soon, as a contract was awarded early this year, the military said. However, remnants of lånchos, or ancient ranches, are of concern on the project’s site, according to the State Historic Preservation Office. 

More monitors 

Throughout the meeting, senators and members of the State Historic Preservation Office and Preservation Trust reiterated a need for more archaeological monitors to be considered, to ensure ancient artifacts are properly identified and accounted for. 

Attendees and military members went on site tours in the afternoon, to view South Finegyan, NCTAMS gate area and various locations at Andersen Air Force Base.

Senator Therese Terlaje discusses Guam Memorial Hospital’s budget request:

Source: KUAM News Story
http://www.kuam.com/story/40442816/2019/05/Thursday/how-will-critical-hospital-projects-be-funded

How will critical hospital projects be funded?

By Chris Barnett CONNECT

How will the hospital’s urgent capital improvements projects be funded in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget? That’s the question health oversight Sen. Therese Terlaje is asking. 

She said the governor’s Guam Memorial Hospital budget request is missing funding sources for major capital improvement projects.

“In particular three that are urgent that are not at all included in their budget request,” she said. “So I haven’t heard a plan as to how those are going to be funded and why they’re not included in the regular budget request.”


The hospital asking for $61 million for FY2020. $25 million would come from special funds. The remaining $36 million – which cites no funding source – slated to be used for capital improvement projects and operations.

Three of those projects deemed “urgent” by GMH – a $20 million information system the hospital has noted would help answer Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services reporting requirements quicker.
– A $6 million power upgrade to GMH’s electrical panel. CMS citing this as a hazard for the hospital
– A $5 million structural roof repair

“The roof that’s just common sense at this point,” Terlaje said. “We can’t have patients and our families walking in there with a leaking roof. They’re not going to have any comfort in the care they’re going to receive if we can’t fix the roof.”

The senator said she’s not sure why Adelup would leave these projects’ funding source off the table. These three items raised the eyebrows of CMS, jeopardizing GMH’s Medicare status.

“I’m trying to keep my eye on the revenues that are being brought in,” Terlaje said. “The revenues that were projected to be brought and the reports right now look like they’re bringing in more that they’ve projected to bring in and if that’s the case, then I can’t see why we’re going to delay giving to the hospital what it needs especially for these projects.”

Magah’aga Lou Leon Guerrero, during a tour of the hospital in February, pledged $30 million to GMH and that’s how much Terlaje says these projects will cost. The governor said at the time she would address GMH’s yearly $30 million shortfall with $6 million from a CMS adjustment to GMH’s base rate and by stepping up tax collections.

“We don’t really need to wait for a dedicated funding source to fund the hospital,” the governor said. “My contention has always been that if the hospital needs $30 million from the government to make sure that our patients and our people are given the quality of health care than we need to give the $30 million.”



We tried to follow up with the governor, but our requests for an interview were declined, and Adelup Spokeswoman Krystal Paco said KUAM may have taken the governor’s comments “out of context.”

Meanwhile, Terlaje says if there are excess revenues available, they need to be put on the table for an accurate read of GovGuam’s finances heading into the FY20 budget hearings.

“If they’ve got another source of funding this, I think that should be put up front,” she said. 

Hospital CEO Lillian Posadas tells KUAM News from February to April, the hospital received $10.7 million from CMS’ rebasement. That money covering FY 2014-2018.

Media coverage of May 6th Criminal Sexual Conduct Roundtable

https://pacificnewscenter.com/concerns-over-psych-evaluation-raised-in-parole-roundtable/?fbclid=IwAR2D0thcN72DCshWw_qawnl81QSDGuGJ92lrGKziyDfHaSxrc7p-aurZLw8
https://k57.com/senator-therese-terlaje-with-andrea-pellacani/
May 3, 2019 Conversation with K57 previewing items to be discussed during the May 6th Criminal Sexual Conduct Roundtable
https://k57.com/senator-therese-terlaje-with-andrea-pellacani-2/
May 7, 2019 Conversation with K57 regarding key findings from May 6th Criminal Sexual Conduct Roundtable


May 8, 2019 Pacific Daily News article: https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2019/05/07/treatment-programs-sexual-offenders-changes-mafnas-freed/1124230001/

Key Findings from May 6th Criminal Sexual Conduct Roundtable

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 6, 2019 – Hagåtña)

Senator Therese Terlaje held a roundtable discussion this afternoon with members of the Judiciary, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Corrections, the Parole Board, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, and Public Defenders Service Corporation regarding Guam’s sentencing laws, rehabilitation programs and parole for repeat sexual offenders, particularly when committed against children. 

Prior to the hearing, Senator Therese Terlaje asked the invited agencies to provide information that would help the Legislature determine if there is adequate assessment, treatment, or rehabilitation for repeat criminal sexual contact offenders and if any such tools are currently being used or should be incorporated into sentencing and parole. 

The following are some of the key findings:

·       Prior to 2017, there were no rehabilitation or treatment programs available on Guam for repeat Criminal Sexual Conduct offenders.  Department of Corrections (DOC) reported that it recently instituted a Sex Offender treatment program, based on cognitive behavior interventions (CBI) best practices, but only 15 people can be put in this program.

·       Psychological evaluations are often requested by the Parole Board to be included in Parole Investigation Reports used to make parole decisions. However, these evaluations are not always conducted or made available to the Parole Board before hearings are held.  Chairman MiChelle Taitano of the Guam Parole Board reported that in light of the Paul Mafnas case, no hearings will be held unless the Parole Board has a completed psychological evaluation.

·       Risk assessments are not catered to criminal sexual contact repeat offenders and this risk may not be adequately known by judges, Department of Corrections or Parole Board.

·       Pre-sentencing investigation reports and recommendations regarding parole made at the time of sentencing are have not been available to the Parole office or Parole Board when making parole decisions even though it is mandated by statute.

·       Current reality is that criminal sexual conduct offenders will continue to be released at the expiration of sentence without accurate risk assessment, without any treatment and without further monitoring required.

Senator Terlaje states, “All relevant information and risk assessment must be made available.  We can’t pretend to know the risk.  We must all unite and act immediately to prevent repeat offenses and to protect our community. If we can’t get the correct information to ensure the safety of children, we should put a moratorium on parole.