BIG CHALLENGES DOMINATE GUAM RELATIONS WITH U.S

PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

Commentary

BIG CHALLENGES DOMINATE GUAM RELATIONS WITH U.S.

By Senator Judi Guthertz

HAGATNA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Oct. 4) – Several enormous challenges dominate Guam’s relationship with the [U.S.] federal government:

First, the military buildup with anticipated infrastructure costs of about US$1 billion. Making matters worse is that the US$700 million Japan is providing for infrastructure may be restricted to the bases.
Second, federal bills S.1634 and H.R.3079 that would federalize immigration in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Decisions are better when they are made closer to the people impacted by the results. In our draft Commonwealth Act, GovGuam would control Guam immigration matters, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government has this same authority in their Covenant. However, the federal government believes that the security of the United States is weakened by local control. I don’t agree. There is tighter control of the border between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam than there is between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

My main concern with the proposed federalization legislation is the provision that resident aliens who have lived in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for a certain period of time would become permanent resident aliens with "green cards." This provision would enable them to migrate to Guam in search of jobs and to sponsor their families to join them here in Guam.

We are talking about as many as 15,000 contract workers, mainly from China, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. I have nothing against immigrants and I studied and attended college in the Philippines, but I cannot support such a huge and sudden influx. This unfunded federal mandate would produce great strains on our infrastructure at the same time that we are struggling to upgrade it for the buildup.

The federal government already forces us to shoulder much of the burden of the influx of Compact citizens. Why would it be any different for the influx of permanent immigrants? Our social, educational, safety and health situations would be radically altered, and there would be further marginalization of the indigenous Chamorros. This is contrary to the U.N. principles for non-self-governing territories.

A public hearing will be held on Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. on my Resolution 80 concerning this issue. If you’re concerned, please attend.

The recent doubling of the rate the Navy charges Guam Waterworks Authority is another challenge. This rate increase came without consultation with Guam Waterworks Authority, in direct violation of Vice President Dick Cheney’s promise, made when he was Secretary of Defense, that GovGuam would be consulted thoroughly on any military changes in Guam.
War reparations for the innocent victims of World War II.
And the fifth and perhaps most important challenge: advancing our political status and civil rights.

Based on the water rate increase, the federal government feels no need to listen to our concerns. How do we address these challenges? How do we influence the federal government to do what is right for the betterment of our people?

The best leverage we have with the federal government is our Congressional delegate, Madeleine Bordallo. Her vote in House committees, and especially in the powerful Armed Services Committee, counts far more than all of our voices and complaints combined. Madeleine is a mentor and a role model for my public service, and I look to her to use her position wisely to get the federal government to listen to Guam’s concerns.

I remember that the late Delegate Antonio Won Pat would meet with the Pentagon brass and offer to support their pet projects in exchange for federal expenditures at SRF and on other Guam projects. His strategy worked wonders. Madeleine needs to follow Tony’s example and convince the military and her colleagues to support the issues that will bring the greatest benefits to our people.

[Dr. Judi Guthertz studied in the Philippines but has lived on Guam all her life. She is a retired professor and dean of the University of Guam’s Business and Public Administration. She now serves as democratic Senator representing Mangilao in Guam.]

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