Tensions rose during lease negotiations over the former Yigo Raceway during a Chamorro Land Trust Commission Board meeting on Tuesday over the mandated deadline.

“If you do not wish to execute a lease, say it,” said Guam Motorsports Association Vice Chair John Burch.

Burch disagreed with Commissioner Jeffrey Ibanez’s interpretation of the recently passed law that mandates the CLTC to negotiate a non-commercial lease with GMA within 90 days of enactment.

The law was passed on Sept. 11, which makes the so-called deadline Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

“If GMA refuses to agree to the terms proposed by the CLTC, the obligation to lease is effectively unfulfilled. And (if) the negotiations fails due to unreasonable demands while refusal from GMA, CLTC basically does befall on us to fulfill the lease requirement. That will not constitute a violation of the law,” said Ibanez. 

Ibanez added the CLTC has been fulfilling their mandate with the ongoing negotiations and that the law does not say they must ‘execute’ the lease. 

But Burch argued otherwise. 

“You said it two or three times, ‘We are here to negotiate.’ So I’m glad we’re on the same page. We are here for the same thing, to execute a lease,” said Burch.

“We are here to negotiate,” said Ibanez.

“The CLTC shall lease a portion,” said Burch. 

CLTC Legal Counsel Attorney Norman Miller unable to answer what will happen if no lease has been executed past the deadline. 

“The legislature in its infinite wisdom did not address the question of what happens on the 91st day. So I don’t have an answer,” said Miller. 

As reported, GMA is offering $1,000 a month to lease some 100 acres of the  former raceway park– that’s less than half of the total acreage. 

Commissioner David Herrera previously asked for $33,000 a month, though no formal offer has been made. 

On Tuesday, board members were unable to lock in on how many acres they are able to lease to GMA.

The board is expected to schedule a GPS site inspection before continuing negotiations.