Hafa adai,
Please find the text and YouTube link for Governor Eddie Baza Calvo’s Weekly Address below.
Governor’s Weekly Address September 10, 2012
The good news that doesn’t always get reported
By Eddie Baza Calvo
Hafa adai my fellow Guamanians,
In the course of everything we’re doing to serve you, some of it gets reported, and some of it doesn’t. I understand that the newspapers and broadcast stations only have so much space. We hear a lot of the negative stuff, and it’s important to raise those issues to the forefront. There’s been all this confusing news coming out of the Board of Education, and a lot of silence on education issues from the legislative majority leaders. There’s been all kinds of talk and resolutions against the military buildup by some leaders in the legislature. They’re also stepping away from cutting government spending. There’s news about crime, government problems, even arguments about where to put the museum. So, this morning I want to raise a few of the more positive issues that haven’t really made it to the news.
My wife has this great project through her Rigalu Foundation. She’s building school bus stops in partnership with the private sector. For those parents and students listening, you know how important it is to have a safe, concrete bus stop in the neighborhood…. Especially since we have all this rain. Christine is coordinating this bus stop project on top of her efforts to join abused and abandoned children with a loving foster family. And this is on top of her other passion… promoting sports tourism on Guam.
Aside from all the issues we’re dealing with at the Governor’s Office — from education reform to paying tax refunds to improving medical care — we’re also coordinating what will be the most-watched international sports event in our history. From October 27 to November 4 this year, Guam will host the Guam 2012 World Cadet Challenge. The world’s best youth table tennis players from countries throughout every part of the globe will compete at the UOG Fieldhouse. International media outlets will broadcast the competition to millions across the globe. Table tennis is the second-most popular sport in the world.
If you want to help any of these worthwhile causes, please give us a call. You can help my wife raise funds or volunteer with her to build bus stops or help foster children. Call her office at 475-9475 or email rigaluguam@gmail.com.
And if you are interested in being part of the most-watched international sporting event in Guam history, you can call my Deputy Chief of Staff, Rose Ramsey, at 475-9303. She’s coordinating this massive event, so she welcomes sponsors and volunteers alike.
Aside from what we’re doing in the administration is really positive news coming from the legislature as well. Senator Aline Yamashita visited the struggling families at the Gill Breeze subdivision in Yigo. At Gill Breeze, the residents have to drive to the mayor’s office to get water. That is no way to live. Everyone should have water. Because of Sen. Yamashita’s advocacy, we have put together a group to solve this problem with Guam Waterworks Authority.
And a few miles south, Senator Sam Mabini got some volunteers together to clean up the Maina Bridge. Drive there some time and you’ll see the real difference she and the volunteers have made. It’s amazing. Sam is not really good at patting herself on the back, and I really didn’t want to let this issue go without someone praising her for caring about our island.
Good things are happening on Guam, and sometimes it’s the little things that count to people. There are the big issues, and no doubt we are focusing on those. But it’s equally important to take a step back sometimes, and recognize the other things that can go unnoticed.
On a final note, there’s a few million left to pay in 2011 tax refunds. If you filed by April 16 and there were no errors on your return, then you most likely got your refund already. So we’re processing out from April 17 forward as the cash becomes available. There are times when cash is slow to come in, then there are times when lots of cash comes in. It’s my goal to pay off the 2011 refunds by this year, so long as the Democrat leadership in the legislature doesn’t throw another monkey wrench into our plans. I’m very proud that this will be the first time in many years that you will get your tax refund in the same year that you filed.
We’ll keep moving forward. Call us for anything you’re concerned about, or anything you want addressed. The number to my office is 472-8931, and the number to the Customer Service Hotline is 475-GUAM. You can also email me at governor@guam.gov, or visit me on Facebook or on my website, governor.guam.gov.
Thank you and God bless you all.
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