Inspection of Public Records; Certified Copies

Every person has a right to inspect any public writing on record in Guam and every public officer having the custody thereof is bound to permit such inspection, and to give on demand and on payment of the legal fees therefor a certified copy of such writing or record. The common law rules of statutory construction apply in Guam pursuant to 1 GCA § 700. “Under the common law rules of interpretation, the repeal of a repealing statute revives the original enactment where such repeal is accomplished by express provision. However, where the repeal of the repealing statute is achieved by specific provision or by implication with new additional legislation, the original legislation is revived only to the extent to which it is consistent with the new legislation.” Sutherland Statutory Construction, 7th ed., § 23:32 (2000). Because P.L. 19-005 enacted § 10103 governing the right of inspection of public documents, § 10201 was not revived.