Legislature debates Chamorro Land Trust nominations after recent firings; nominees moved to voting file

The Guam Legislature spent much of its session debating nominees to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission after the governor removed two sitting commissioners, with senators split over whether to advance replacements to the voting file.

Lawmakers said the debate matters because the Chamorro Land Trust holds land intended for beneficiaries who have waited decades, recent attorney-general findings and court rulings shaped prior delays, and commissioners will oversee land subdivisions, financing and leasing decisions.

Opponents argued the governor's recent removals undercut the trust's independence and that new nominees showed limited knowledge of the trust's history and statutory duties. One senator argued the recent dismissals targeted commissioners who "were, in fact, doing their jobs, fired for seemingly no cause," and urged the Legislature to withhold confirmation until the implications of those removals were clear.

Supporters said the Legislature's role is advice and consent and that nominees who are licensed…