The "P" Word
 

by Tony Blaz - 
KUAM's Political Insider
June 26, 2005

The "P" Word is often used by our politicians to solve some of our government's major problems. The "P" Word stands for privatization, but "P" also stands for public/private partnership, and it could also stand for potaki - which means it stinks!

My dear people of guam I believe that privatization is a good thing when it meets certain criteria, criterion such as if the government is going to engage in a privatization undertaking will it result in a reduction in cost to the taxpayer? Will it improve services to benefit the taxpayer? Will it result in greater efficiency? And it must not duplicate an existing service.

We have witnessed the horrors of privatization recently at the Guam Memorial Hospital, where duplication of existing services occurred, where the government doubled its expenses. We saw great inefficiencies, etc. However this week, we witnessed the unveiling a public/private partnership that should be heralded as the example of privatization that our government should emulate, I speak of Governor Camacho's announcement of plans of a construction of a new all income housing development project in Dededo that will provide over 100 individual housing units for financially challenged families. 

These homes will be built in Machanao, Dededo and will include three and four bedroom homes with two full bathrooms. And in keeping with Chamorro tradition will even include an outside kitchen. 

Financially challenged families will have an opportunity to purchase these homes after 15 years. The first 15 years eligible families can rent the homes at affordable prices under a federal program, which will be monitored here locally by GHURA. The beauty of this program is that in terms of meeting the criterion I spoke of earlier, will this public private partnership result in greater benefits for our people. Heck yeah! 

Will it be efficient and reduce costs in providing over one hundred homes to the financially challenged at no cost to our government - that's right no cost. None of our taxpayers funds are utilized to make this project a reality. This is really and truly an example of a privatization undertaking that we should pursue, a public/private partnership that is good for all of us, because it doesn't cost us a single local taxpayer dollar.

It will help the financially challenged and lastly it meets the number one criterion I mentioned earlier - it doesn't stink. It's not potacki.      

Tony Blaz hosts "Positively Local", a radio talkshow on Isla61-AM everyday from 6-10am