What public improvement project or issue would you like to see prioritized in 2016?

“I think Guam’s public utility infrastructure should be prioritized. We need reliable water and power in order to sustain economic growth and provide vital public services. We do not want shortfalls/deficiencies in public utilities to stymie economic growth, like what has happened in past economic cycles.”
— John Day
President and chief operating officer
Pacific Data Systems Inc.

“Two paving projects that are badly needed: 1) ‘Hamburger Road’ 2) Macheche Road.”

— Philippe Gerling
General manager
Nissan Motor Corp. in Guam

“We think that it would be ideal to get rid of the dilapidated Department of Administration building and replace it with something more appropriate — or even just plain landscaping — to coincide with the opening of the museum. This would have an exponential impact for Guam and the community as a whole. Also, the heavy lift, but of critical importance, is the flooding in Tumon.”

— Ramona Jones
Chief operating officer
Jones & Guerrero Co. Inc.

“Hardening of power and water infrastructure for sustainability and resiliency.”

— Catherine S. Castro
President
Guam Chamber of Commerce

ady “During my six-year term on the [Guam Chamber of Commerce] board, there were two things I wanted to try to accomplish; neither got done.

1) Part-time legislature. Until we have some kind of term limits or part-time legislature, we are going to continue to breed lifetime politicians — folks that enter the political arena for a profession. The problem is it will have to be on a referendum since the folks making the laws are the ones that make a profession out of it.

1) Point-of-sale tax. We use Gross Receipts Tax, and it is extremely cumbersome and impossible to police. There are hundreds of companies that get away with paying nothing or a very small amount of what is due. If you have POS tax, no one escapes it. You pay it at the cash register when you purchase something.”

— Michael R. Ady
President
M80 Office Systems Inc.

Roberto “Education, education and, oh yeah, our kids’ education. We need to give the best possible chance and provide as much opportunity to our kids to stand on their own two feet, and it helps to have them realize it is OK to dream.”