Cover Story
Mission Possible
Capt. Robert Lee Is Taskedwith Transforming Guam
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As acting director of the Joint Guam Program Office, Lee is charged with being a liaison with the military and everyone on Guam, "I deal with the military on island, military in Okinawa, government in Japan, people in Guam, government in Guam, anyone who comes to visit such as senators... We're the point of contact on island.”
His office is jointly hosting the second Guam Industry Forum this month, which will hear an update on the buildup preparations, including the Environmental Impact Statement process and the buildup "master plan." Lee says there is still probably two years to go on the environmental review process, which is broad-ranging and includes social and economic impacts, a cultural study, traffic and infrastructure, as well as land and Marine issues.
“It's a very fast timeframe for the amount of impact we expect. The environmental study dictates what we can and can't do," Lee says.
The master plan will look at locations and land issues, "where things might fit" as Lee puts it. "This is a small island so it is a little bit of a challenge.”
It will also include a component on the Northern Marianas Commonwealth, where a training concept study is being examined for Tinian. A draft of that report is expected in March.
During the recent Civilian/Military Task Force's briefing for the 29th Guam Legislature two recurring concerns were voiced; the need for locally-sourced funds and the need for more information on the Pentagon's plans. Guam's territorial government says it needs $2 billion to $3 billion in federal funds to cover outside-the-fence costs.
Lee agrees. "It is a huge undertaking and we understand that." His office has been working to help match the Guam government with general partners and eventually with grant writing. "Of course government Guam needs to find other sources on their own initiative too," he says.
In terms of information flows, he says "we only have what we have. This is a planning process that is very slow. We have to do it right, and we have to do it right the first time."
"We understand their anxieties because we also have those concerns," Lee says.
He says concerns by many in Guam that "inside the base will be first world, and outside, third world" are a cry to the federal government "don't forget us."
"For example, we don't want to have a great solid waste or water system that doesn't feed into a system that's adaptable. That's a cry to the federal government to rally around."
Of commentators and skeptics who say the Guam government is so focused on the buildup that it is not addressing underlying problems in its economic management, Lee says, "I don't believe it is fair. Guam has a vibrant tourism industry; they have a business community that is active. I don't think they are putting all their eggs in one basket, however this is going to bring great benefit to Guam in tax dollars and the government is aware of that."
Okinawa-based activist Suzuyo Takazato who chairs the Okinawa Rape Emergency Intervention Counseling Center visited Guam in late January to talk about lessons learned in Okinawa and the ongoing military expansion on Guam and the Marianas. "Violence, human rights violations and sexual assault on women are among the problems brought about by U.S. military presence. We want to discuss these issues with women in Guam to find a way to minimize the problem,” Takazato said at the time.
But Lee says crime statistics for Marine behavior are overblown.
"I know some folks have chosen to overdramatize what has happened and unfortunately it has got a lot of people nervous."
"Marines are good neighbors. A lot of it is rhetoric; I understand that, if they want to get involved and discuss true facts, then this will be great. But we need to get away from rhetoric."
Lee says the impact of the U.S. presidential race, and any change of government in Washington should not adversely affect the buildup process on Guam, citing existing strong support in Congress. "A process is already in place... I won't try and read a crystal ball, but we don't expect things to change too much."
