Hagåtña, Guam – The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration renews their commitment to advocate on behalf of ancestral owners for the return of all excess land seized by the federal government after World War II and for just compensation to all dispossessed original owners of federal land throughout the island. On Tuesday evening, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio met with over 30 ancestral owners of Eagles Field and their representatives. Eagles Field is among 17 sites identified and reviewed by the Governor’s Healthcare Taskforce for a medical complex.
“Despite the establishment of the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission (GALC) in the 1990s, many original landowners have been left without clarity, without answers, and without a path forward,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “We engaged in meaningful dialogue to understand the collective concerns of these ancestral landowners. It is clear—we share common ground in our desire for land return or just compensation for those lands that will not be returned. Under our administration, we will engage our federal partners and pursue every avenue to bring these affected families closer to achieving the closure they have been waiting for generations.”
“Land is scarce, precious, and sacred to the people of Guam. We heard the long-standing frustrations of decades of injustice and the desire for families to obtain land for the use of their loved ones,” said Lt Governor Tenorio. “We must refresh our efforts in addressing this long-standing injustice to our people.”
“Our goal is to develop a medical campus that meets our community’s urgent needs. This facility is being designed for all, and we will continue to work together and bring everyone along, toward a healthy and prosperous future for Guam. This includes ensuring our ancestral owners are fully apprised of all their options and the actions taken,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “I have instructed the GALC, the Department of Land Management (DLM), and the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA), to continue meeting with ancestral owners and incorporating their feedback in future planning of a medical campus.”
The Governor’s Healthcare Taskforce continues to analyze other sites for location, size, access, utilities, development constraints, permitting hazards, and construction impacts.
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