Vice-speaker calls for DEIS rewrite

Vice-speaker calls for DEIS rewrite

Posted: Feb 09, 2010 4:16 PM
Updated: Feb 09, 2010 4:16 PM

by Janjeera Hail

Guam - Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz would like to see the Draft Environmental Impact Statement rewritten to include a more comprehensive analysis on how the Department of Mental Health and the Guam Memorial Hospital will be affected by the military buildup. Such was the sentiment of letters he sent to Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice.

At Friday's healthcare roundtable, Mental Health Clinical Administrator Dr. Andrea Leitheiser said that the military makes up 20% of consumers, a number Cruz feels justifies his request for a closer look. "If we're going to have 8,000 more Marines, that 20% is going to be even higher - so we've got to address that. We're already in trouble with Mental Health. We need more professionals both there and at the hospitals."

Cruz originally raised his concerns at the congresswoman's town hall meetings and meetings with the military.