HAGÅTÑA — Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero pushed back Friday against calls from legislators and the attorney general to declare a state of emergency over rising fuel prices, saying Guam’s fuel supply remains stable and that no emergency declaration can address the underlying cause of global oil price increases.
In a video address to the people of Guam, Leon Guerrero acknowledged the strain rising fuel costs are placing on island families but said the administration’s coordination with private fuel suppliers, the Guam Power Authority and military partners has produced a consistent picture.
“Everyone is telling me the same thing: fuel supply remains stable. Fuel is here and our supply lines are intact,” Leon Guerrero said.
The governor said she has been asked by some legislators to declare a state of emergency, a call she said has been amplified by the attorney general. She rejected the premise that such a declaration would help.
“No executive order gives a governor superpowers, and no emergency declaration from Guam can reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.
Leon Guerrero tied the rising prices directly to the U.S. conflict with Iran, which has disrupted key oil transit routes including the Strait of Hormuz, driving fuel costs higher worldwide. She said leadership in the moment requires restraint rather than reactive action.
“In business, as Governor, or as a nurse, there are moments when the most important thing you can do is stay calm, study the situation, and make sure your response doesn’t make it worse,” she said. “This is one of those moments.”
The administration said it will continue monitoring conditions and stands ready to act if circumstances change.
The following is the full text of Governor Leon Guerrero’s address, delivered Friday, April 3, 2026:
Hafa Adai. I want to speak to you tonight, not just as your Governor, but as someone who cares deeply about what our families are facing right now.
As a result of our nation’s conflict with Iran, gas prices seem to rise continuously. And while we will never have control over supply chains or the price of gas, I have been asked by some in the Legislature to declare a state of emergency based on the fear of a fuel shortage — a fear that is being stoked by the Attorney General. I know that many people are concerned about our fuel supply. So let me tell you plainly what I know and what I am watching closely.
I have been in direct personal contact with our private fuel suppliers, with the Guam Power Authority, and with our military partners. Everyone is telling me the same thing: fuel supply remains stable. Fuel is here and our supply lines are intact. We are in active communications should things change.
Now, I want to say something to you directly as if I were sitting in your living room. We elect leaders to solve problems. But no executive order gives a governor superpowers, and no emergency declaration from Guam can reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In business, as Governor, or as a nurse, there are moments when the most important thing you can do is stay calm, study the situation, and make sure your response doesn’t make it worse. This is one of those moments. We stay steady, we stay informed, and we will act decisively if that moment comes.
That is my responsibility to you, and I will not step away from it.
Si Yu’os Ma’åse’.
