Guam § 80102 - Affirmation of and Authorization to Exercise a

§ 80102. Affirmation of and Authorization to Exercise a

Fundamental Civil Right in Ancestral Real Property Also

Known as Lands.

(a) The responsibility of the government of Guam to enforce

rights in private property, as a civil right, pursuant to the laws of the

United States of America applicable to Guam and the Laws of

Guam is hereby acknowledged and reaffirmed. The responsibility of

the government of Guam to also enforce the entire community’s

rights in public property, as common property, is also hereby

acknowledged and reaffirmed.

(b) The government of Guam expects to eventually accept

transfer of the ownership of lands to be disposed under ‘The Guam

Excess Lands Act’ through the U. S. General Services Agency and

as a result of decisions in 1993 and 1995 issued by the U.S. Base

Realignment and Closure Commission, subject to certain specified

encumbrances, including un-relinquished property rights retained

either by the United States of America or other prior owners, with

applicable judicial procedures available should disputes arise.

However, it is recognized that a process does not now exist to

recognize the ancestral land rights of landowners whose properties

have not been declared surplus and may not ever be declared surplus

by the military in the future. Likewise, the process established by

Guam Public Law Number 22-145 for disposal of three thousand

two hundred (3,200) acres of Guam excess lands does not apply to

claimants whose claims are attached to excess land elsewhere.

(c) I Liheslaturan Guåhan recognizes that the rights of

landowners to full use and enjoyment of their private property was

long deprived because of unsettled issues described in the foregoing