Adelup responds to Barnett on land purchase due to hospital problem | Guam News

The verbal spat between Adelup and Sen. Chris Barnett over land for a new public hospital continues as the governor’s office raises its own questions about the senator’s intentions after Barnett issued a news release asking the public to consider questions , implying corruption in the governor’s administration .

These comments from Barnett and Adelup come after Monday’s announcement that 48 acres of private property in Mangilao, part of the Catalina Eclavea Camacho estate, will be purchased for a new public hospital on Guam. The purchase was expected to close Wednesday and cost $3.5 million.

The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority oversaw the purchase using a loan from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero from state and local coronavirus fiscal recovery funds granted to her under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Because the purchase was administered by GHURA, an autonomous agency, and used federal funds under the governor’s control, neither the attorney general nor the legislature were involved.

About a week before Monday’s announcement, Barnett sent a Sunshine Act request to GHURA requesting information about the property sought for the new hospital, including information about beneficiaries or heirs.

After receiving the requested information and hearing Monday’s announcement about the property purchase, Barnett’s office said he would forward the information to Attorney General Douglas Moylan to ensure “that any transaction is conducted in accordance with the ‘rule of law’ and not the ‘rules.’ was carried out by Lou.’”

The senator also asked readers to consider how they would react if they “discovered corruption at the highest levels of government” and how they would feel if a contractor was informed of the hospital’s land purchase and then, among other things, adjacent ones Buying land would ask questions.

Adelup’s response said Barnett had “made it clear” that he would block any attempt by the governor to build a new hospital.

Like some other lawmakers, Barnett had criticized the governor’s attempt to lease federal property in the Eagles Field area of ​​Mangilao, which was Leon Guerrero’s first choice for a new hospital and medical complex. Barnett co-sponsored legislation requiring legislative approval for the purchase or long-term rental of federal government property. The governor vetoed the measure, but it ultimately passed with the support of all lawmakers except Deputy Speaker Tina Muña Barnes, who was absent and excused at the time of the override vote.

When the governor then turned her attention to the Eda Agaga area of ​​Barrigada/Mangilao, land owned by the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, Barnett introduced legislation to ensure that any hospital built under the Guam 21st Century Healthcare Center Act was specially built in Tamuning would be at Ypao Point. Many doctors opposed the construction of a new hospital in Mangilao, preferring to build it at Ypao Point, which is close to the existing public hospital.

Just as Barnett raised questions about the governor’s administration and land acquisition for the new hospital, Adelup asked the public to consider why Barnett is “so against building a new hospital” under Leon Guerrero’s administration and how the public feels would if she knew Barnett, among other things, “received political donations from doctors who opposed the hospital in Mangilao.”

“If Senator Barnett truly cares about people, he should focus on doing everything in his power to build a new hospital. People deserve nothing less,” said Adelup.