*Below is the response provided to The Vigilance Committee regarding the Notice of Violation of the Open Government law from Speaker Therese Terlaje. All related documents are available for download below including the Notice of Violation, Speaker Therese Terlaje’s response, and Request for AG opinion.
May 18, 2021
Transmitted via Electronic Mail:
Lee P. Webber
President
The Vigilance Committee
414 West Soledad Avenue
Hagåtña, Guam 96910
SUBJECT: Open Government Law – Meetings
Håfa Adai Mr. Webber,
Thank you for your letter dated May 18, 2021 relative to the Open Government Law. I share your staunch advocacy for compliance with the Open Government Law and have thus made a formal request to the Attorney General to give his official opinion as to whether a violation occurred so that the Governor and Legislature can move forward accordingly.
I would also like to take this opportunity to personally extend an invitation to you and all your committee members to participate in a series of hearings being scheduled by the Legislative Branch on the priorities for the spending of the $553 M in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. A formal notice will be sent to you following the May legislative session, in accordance with the Open Government Law. It is our goal to prevent a repeat of the CARES Act expenditures, where the input of the Legislature and the people of Guam were largely ignored, resulting in doubt from the people of Guam as to the necessity, prudence, legality, and lack of accounting of some of the expenditures.
Guam has an unprecedented opportunity to use the ARP funds to recover, address long standing issues, and thrive. I look forward to full collaboration of all parties.
Si Yu’os Ma’åse’,
Therese M. Terlaje