Guam senators moved a bill to the voting file that would require the Guam Visitors Bureau board of directors, rather than the GVB general manager, to approve off-island travel.
While bill sponsor and GVB oversight chairman Sen. Jesse Lujan, a Republican, said the bill was meant to ensure accountability, some senators questioned why the law is being changed now.
Travel authorization was in the hands of the board until 2024, when senators changed the law to allow then-General Manager Carl Gutierrez to approve travel.
Democratic Sens. Therese Terlaje, William Parkinson and Chris Barnett said while they didn’t object to the bill, they were not in favor of holding different general managers to different standards.
“I support the bill,” Terlaje said. “I just don't support the rewriting of history.”
Parkinson asked whether the rules would be changed again if another general manager were hired.
“The people of Guam should know there is something foul and petty going on here and I myself don't quite understand it,” Parkinson said.
Barnett said when Gutierrez was leading GVB, some of the senators traveled with him multiple times. Now, with Régine Biscoe Lee heading the bureau, senators are changing the rules.
“I’m not saying that any of my colleagues have problems with women leaders,” he said. “I’ll leave that for the people of Guam to decide.”
Barnett said the public can see “there's one standard for the good old boys, and there's an entirely other standard for those who aren't connected to the good old boys.”
Lujan objected to the characterization.
He said the bill was introduced because GVB board members weren’t informed of how money was spent, and the bill was a result of oversight hearings and GVB meetings.
"This bill ensures that public funds are spent wisely, that decisions about travel are vetted by the board, and the taxpayers of Guam have confidence in their money that is being spent and used responsibly," he said. "The alternative, allowing travel to proceed without proper oversight, is a slap in the face to businesses struggling on our island and to residents are watching public funds being spent without accountability."
