A FEW years ago, in St. Thomas, there was a shooting at the Rockefeller Ranch, and it resulted in a downward slide and absence of tourists for nearly 10 years before that stigma was erased. The same thing happened in Puerto Rico where the beach waters became polluted due to lack of concern on the part of the government, and the tourists boycotted Puerto Rico for nearly 10 years.

Can we face the same situation on our island? Our only economic engine is being ignored or mismanaged by GovGuam. Existing litter and parking laws are not being enforced. We have a police department building, paid for by the tourist industry, just one block from the beach, and no patrol or law enforcement is evident. We have an active GEPA, Parks and Grounds, Dept. of Agriculture, etc. that hound businessmen, but no effort is made to enforce the litter and trash laws of the island. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the beach is full of Guam residents by the thousands, but where are the public bathroom facilities? Where do they go to relieve themselves?

Charcoal is left on the sand, illegally, where eventually it mixes with the white sand, turning the sand to a color grey. If the litter laws were enforced just in the Tumon beach area, the fines given and collected could fund the deficit of the Guam budget. But there seems to be resistance to enforcing the laws of our island.

This lack of care by our government employees to protect the only source of revenue for our island is appalling, and downright criminal. But I do not blame the public employees, the bigger fault lies with the members of the hospitality industry, who have taken a cavalier attitude toward this situation. The hotel association is in a position of strength to force GVB and the other governmental agencies to enforce the laws, but unfortunately, hotel industry owners and executives have taken a casual, indifferent attitude toward this grave situation. And if the hotel industry is indifferent, why should the public employees enforce the law?

The time for improvement is now, not when tourism becomes inconsequential. We can start with the active enforcement of litter and trash laws, by the police department, GEPA, Parks and Recreation, and Department of Agriculture. A few years ago, it was suggested we deputize the security and cleanup personnel of hotels to enforce the litter laws, but this was largely and loudly rejected by GEPA and Parks and Grounds, on the supposition that it will encroach on their jobs. But when pressed, these same departments could not or would not reschedule their employees to work on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, when their employees are off-duty and the violations are committed.

Will we wait for a calamity to occur, e.g. St. Thomas and Puerto Rico, before we react, or take positive action?

Alfred C. Ysrael,
Tumon