The close-out financial report for the 82nd Liberation Queen Committee was sent to mayors for review. Yona Mayor Brian "BJ" Terlaje, who helped prepare the report, explained during the Mayors Council meeting on Aug. 12 where the remaining funds would go and proposed two alternatives for the 82nd and 83rd Liberation Queen and Royal Court.
"Based on the treasurer's report for the 82nd Liberation, I know we do have a little over $5,000 ... in our account. I also did request from Mayor Robert Hoffman and sent a letter to the president and CEO of GVB because initially the $15,000 that we requested from their sponsorship was supposed to be used for the Queen's float and the Queen's brunch," Mayor Terlaje said.
Cruz reported that only $5,000 was used, and he has secured approval from the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) to hold onto the remaining balance for next year for the 82nd Liberation Queen separate from 83rd Liberation Committee funds raised.
"Because of the situation with Typhoon Bavi and the cancellation of the Liberation Parade. That was since approved and now, I'm bringing it to the Mayors Council to make a motion to keep the $10,000 ... to be withheld in the revolving fund of our MCOG to be used for next year's float," Terlaje said.
Terlaje brought two proposals for the council's consideration related to the 82nd Liberation Queen and Royal Court.
"The two proposals, the first one was, of course, because of the typhoon, because of the cancellation of the parade, the 82nd Liberation Queen and her Royal Court will still have a float, which is the motion that we just passed with the $10,000 to start the parade in the 82nd Liberation Parade next year. That's the first proposal. The second proposal would be to have these, to have the 82nd Liberation Queen and her Royal Court reign for one more year," Terlaje said.
He explained that the latter would mean no contest for the 83rd Liberation Queen and Royal Court, though it did have pushback.
"Either way, I just think that for the pageant, I feel because it's an honor and I understand that they didn't have their parade this year, however, they are going to have their float, which we just agreed upon, and that's the only thing really that this reigning queen would have missed ... but they have the entire year with the court and the queen to do the due diligence of the queen ... I think next year they should have another queen take her reign," Hågat Mayor Kevin Susuico said in opposition.
Mayor Terlaje highlighted that in recent years there has been "little to no participation."
"And so, this is where these proposals came into play was because of the little to no participation," he said. "However, if we are going to move forward with the 83rd Liberation pageant, ... then I am going to request that the mayors from each village have a representative and candidate to participate in the 83rd Liberation."
The Mayors Council ultimately voted for tradition over practicality — 3 ayes, 15 nays.