Guam – The build-up is still on! Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the commander of Joint Region Marianas, has assured that “there has been no change in scope or plan for the relocation of Marines to Guam.”
The admiral was responding to a letter from Speaker Tina Muna-Barnes who requested clarification after comments made by Marine Corps Commandant General Robert B. Neller, in front of a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
During that hearing, the general stated that the plans regarding the move to Guam needed further review. But Admiral Chatfield stressed that the military build-up was still on. And in her response to Speaker Muna-Barnes, the admiral said that the United States remains committed to its international agreement with Japan concerning the relocation of Marines to Guam.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, in an interview with K57’s Patti Arroyo, also assured that during the meetings she had with Navy Admiral Phil Davidson and other officials during her recent off-island trip … assurances were given that the military build-up on Guam is still on track.
“Actually, even Admiral Fenton, who is the second in command, was there. And they both assured me that the military build-up is on target and following the programmatic agreement, the record of decision and nothing has changed in the direction or strategic decision to relocate the Marines,” Leon Guerrero said
Leon Guerrero added, “The deadline … the timeline of 2023 or 2024 was discussed and also the number of Marines that would be coming. Some of them would be rotating. But for the most part, most of them would be on Guam, and they’re moving forward. There has been no change.”
Chatfield also said, “We remain dedicated to the protection and preservation of the island’s natural environment and cultural resources.”
