Still no movement on compensating landowners with land bank trust

Millions of dollars continue to sit in the land bank trust but still no compensation has been made to original landowners. 

Guam Ancestral Lands Commission members up for reappointment were put in the hot seat before senators to answer what they’ve been doing to ensure the beneficiaries they represent get ‘just’ compensation. 

During session, Sen. Sabina Perez asked, “How much is in the Trust right now?”

Guam Ancestral Lands Commission Secretary and Treasurer Maria Cruz said, “$11 million.”

“And has any of it been disbursed at all from that trust,” Perez followed up. 

“Not yet,” Cruz said.

Cruz testified before lawmakers during a reappointment hearing earlier this week. 

She said the challenge is in their rules and regulations, adding they can’t determine who is eligible as beneficiaries without a clear law. 

“We need this body to make it clear who is going to benefit from the Land bank trust. In other words senators, the ball is in your court,” said Cruz. 

But when questioned by Perez, Cruz admitted the Government of Guam should not be responsible for compensating landowners whose land still has not been returned by the military. 

Sen. Perez: Do you think they are owed anything, those who will never get their land back? 

Cruz: No, I do not think they are owed anything by the government of Guam on this category of families. 

Perez: Okay, that seems to be an issue because I think that’s probably the most needed group if they are never going to get their land back. So I don’t know, I disagree with that.

Ancestral Lands Commission Chairman Ron Eclavea, also up for reappointment, holds the same opinion arguing the federal government should be the ones to remedy the injustice.  

“It’s just a big mess. But right now, in my personal opinion, I don’t see why the government

of Guam should be responsible. They didn’t take these lands. The federal government owes it. It’s an injustice. They owe it back,” said Eclavea. 

The land bank trust was set up to give monetary payments to dispossessed original landowners who will never realize the return of their ancestral lands. 

The revenue is generated through “crown land” leases, which are lands not privately owned. 

Meantime, senators could vote on their reappointments in a later September session.

Both members have served the commission for 21 years and are up for another 4 year term.