Rising tourism numbers, a lower unemployment rate and a $297 million government surplus were among the successes the governor listed Wednesday night in her final State of the Island address.
“In January of 2019, I stood in this hall for the first time and made a promise that was simple to articulate but difficult to deliver,” she said. “We would put our government’s financial house in order. We would prepare Guam for the defining moment at our door. And we would fight to leave this island safer, stronger, and more compassionate than we found it.”
The promise was tested by a global pandemic, a major typhoon and economic challenges.
One of the governor’s top goals – a new hospital – has not been achieved.
She said unless island lawmakers take action, Guam will lose $104 million in American Rescue Plan funding in December.
“That loss will not be rhetorical. It will be felt in delayed care, in patients forced off island, traveling thousands of miles at the worst moments of their lives. The people of Guam deserve better,” she said.
The money has been pledged for hospital infrastructure in Mangilao, but senators are not on board with plans to build a hospital in that village.
She also warned that if the business privilege tax is further reduced from 4.5% to 4%, a move in conflict with her proposed budget, Guam will pay the price with reduced government services.
