Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission Established; activities from 25-29 July

*****

by Maurice Merchant

maurice.merchant@antigua.gov.ag

ST. JOHN¹S, Antigua ­ July 19, 2011 The Office of the Prime Minister is pleased to announce that the committee established in 2007 to commemorate the Bicentenary Anniversary of the Abolition of the British Empire Atlantic Slave Trade will now be officially called the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission.

The Commission will continue to lead national initiatives, programmes, discussions and activities on issues pertaining to the institution of slavery, emancipation and reparation. It has the mandate to:

· lead national reflection on the institution of slavery which was at the heart of profound social and economic inequality, hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.

· identify, design and promote programmes for the commemoration of the abolition of slavery.

· honour the memory of those who died as a result of one of the worst acts of violation of human rights in the history of humanity.

· organize activities to include education and awareness programmes concerning reparations for the enslavement of our ancestors and establish links with organizations with similar mandates.

· foster deeper ideological, social and economic connections with people of African descent in the Diaspora and continental Africa.

Dorbrene O¹Marde has been appointed as Chair-person and Ambassador Anthony Liverpool as Deputy Chair-person with a directive to recruit persons either formally or informally to assist with the design and execution of plans and programmes in support of the mandate. Other members appointed to the Commission are:

 King Frank-I Francis
 Colin Cumberbatch
Saiid Greene
 Dr. Lester Simon
Reg Murphy
Ivor Jackson
Ermina Osaba
Strickland Joseph
 Donna Chaia
Mali Olatunji.

In preparations for the upcoming emancipation celebrations the Commission will be hosting an Emancipation Sunday celebration on July 31st at Betty¹s Hope and an Emancipation Exhibition at the Museum from July 25th to 29th 2011.

Antigua and Barbuda and Guadeloupe to Move Forward their Relations

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by Maurice Merchant 

BASSE-TERRE, Guadeloupe ­

France stands ready to support concrete strategic and focused development initiatives between Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda.

(OTR Note: foreign relations of Guadeloupe, as an overseas department of France, are controlled by the French state with some degree of authority for regional economic affairs delegated to the elected government of the department ).

The assurances were made to Prime Minister, Dr. Hon. W. Baldwin Spencer during a courtesy call on His Excellency, Jean Fabre, Prefect of Guadeloupe.

Welcoming Prime Minister Spencer and his delegation to his office in Basse-Terre, Mr. Fabre said cooperation between Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda could begin with healthcare, tourism and the agricultural sectors. He expressed a willingness to visit St. John¹s to assist in concretizing proposals to commence the enhanced cooperation.

In expressing appreciation for the warm welcome and the fact that Antigua and Barbuda has finally decided to embark upon this historic journey, Prime Minister Spencer who is visiting Guadeloupe for the first time, stressed the significance of the Agreement and St. John¹s desire to quickly operationalize the contents of the Accord.

Ambassador Dr. Clarence Henry and Mr. Jean Tibilan were identified as the persons designated by Prime Minister Spencer and Prefect Fabre to follow up on the their discussions.

The courtesy call on the Prefect was the first of several formal engagements for Prime Minister Spencer and his delegation that included a luncheon with the President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, the formal signing ceremony and an official dinner.

Turks & Caicos Progressive National Party comments on political crisis; Calls for return to democracy

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 Progressive National Party Statement

Clayton Greene

PNP Leader

While it is heartening that Minister Bellingham has kept his promise to visit the TCI soon after the recent discussions on the Draft Constitution in London, it was certainly disappointing that on this visit he brought with him neither a constitution nor did he give any indication as to when the People of the Turks and Caicos Islands can expect to receive a date certain for elections in 2012. Equally disconcerting is the fact that the Minister and the entire Administration continue to be vague concerning the extent to which the milestones that the Minister has laid down are being met.

Following the meeting between the PNP delegation and the Minister and his team we can say that there now seems to be some greater appreciation by the Minister of the general level of frustration with the process and in particular the Administration’s failure to keep the people informed in any meaningful way concerning the issues that impact their daily lives and their ability to survive let alone thrive in these Islands.

While the Minister did not accept the invitation of the Party to provide details concerning exactly where they were on the milestones, coming out of the meeting the Minister has agreed that the Governor would provide the Progressive National Party with detailed and regular updates concerning the Administration’s progress on the milestones. We look forward to this and expect that the Governor would be forthright in identifying the key deliverables attached to each milestone and whether in each case they have been met, and where they have not been met give an indication as to when we can expect that they will be met.

We made it clear to the Minister that with respect to elections in 2012, he is not, in our view, speaking with the certainty that characterized his language when we met in London last month. In the circumstances, we make it clear that we have no confidence that elections will be held in 2012 and we encourage every Turks and Caicos Islander to continue to be vigilant and agitate for the return of Representative Government to our country. True democracy is always fought for and struggled for. We become complacent at our peril!

In this regard we must require the Administration to be transparent and public in its plans regarding the establishment of the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the ultimate mapping out of the constituencies. We continue to be concerned that political parties will not have the right to make appointments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission but we expect and have made clear to the Minster the need for political parties to be involved in that process in a meaningful way.

The Minister in his press statement spoke to the intention on the part of the Administration to confer Turks and Caicos Islander status onto those persons qualifying for same. The Progressive National Party’s position is that the Interim Administration ought not to grant such status to any individual other than those persons who qualify through marriage or adoption. In London we agreed the minimum requirements for the same, and it should now be a matter for an elected Government whether, and to what extent, those minimum requirements should be enlarged by legislation. The Interim Administration has in the past assured the people of these Islands that it is not their intention to enlarge the franchise, and we are prepared to hold their feet to the fire on that promise.

The Progressive National Party supports the establishing of a clear path to TCI status and we believe that once an individual has qualified and has expressed the desire to acquire the status, the decision as to who should get the same should be random. We make it clear however that the grant of TCI status ought not to be considered an entitlement and there will be those who for objective and defensible reasons may be denied the grant.

The restructuring of the civil service was also of concern to us and we impressed upon the Minister the need to ensure that the restructuring is accompanied by the necessary training for Turks and Caicos Islanders so that we can be satisfied that the Service is continuing to represent, for Turks and Caicos Islanders, an opportunity for public service and meaningful employment. We do not want our civil service to be a revolving door for expatriate “expertise”. There must be a firm policy of transferring that expertise.

When we see Turks and Caicos Islanders being replaced by non nationals at the highest levels without the need for explanation or justification we are deeply concerned. This type of attitude is counter productive and is not conducive to the development of a Public service that is motivated, that is sustainable, and that is able to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly complex society.

During our meeting, Mr. Capes was able to indicate that some three ministries have already been the subject of review and that resulting from the review out of a total of 600 staff members some 50 jobs were found to be surplus to requirement. He indicated further that of those 50 persons, a significant number have been able to be redeployed in other public service positions. We continue, however, to be concerned that Mr. Cape’s plans for the service are being kept secret and that persons are not being given sufficient notice that their employment is being terminated. We have since our meeting written to the Minister with copy to the Governor and Mr. Capes requesting among other things, that in relation to the Civil Service, the Administration makes public its objectives for the Public Service and give details of the deliverables and the time frame in which it hopes to achieve them. We have asked further that the Administration consults with, and keeps the Civil Service Association abreast of its plans in this regard.

The people of these Islands were rightly upset by the statements made by Minister Bellingham during his press conference which lead persons to believe that the Minister was deliberately seeking to give the impression that billions of dollars had been stolen from the Treasury by elected officials. We raised this matter with the Minister and he has instructed the Governor to issue a statement clarifying his position. We do not feel that a statement seeking clarification is good enough and we have in correspondence asked that the Minister go a step further and produce the methodology that Mr. Llewellyn used for arriving at his figures, with specific reference to those particular bits of property that are being questioned. Absent an ability to justify his figures the statement should be completely retracted. Our party has, and continues to be vilified by this Interim Administration. In doing so, this Administration has taken on all of the trappings of a political party and that is to be regretted.

As we did when we met in London, the Party again impressed upon the Minister the need for the Administration to view the People of the Turks and Caicos Islands as their partners in the process towards the return of a democratically elected government. The Administration has not as yet begun to do that.

That, notwithstanding, this Progressive National Party will continue to agitate on behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands for the return of democracy and for the promotion of good governance and sustainable development.

We believe that we can have it all!
We believe that we deserve it all!

.

Uncertain return to elected government in Turks & Caicos Islands amidst continued colonial power

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ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR DOUBTFUL

 

By Hayden Boyce

TCI SUN Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

There appears to be great doubt about whether elections that will return the Turks and Caicos Islands to self-rule, will be held next year. While officials from the United Kingdom keep saying in broad and general terms that it is their intention to hold elections in 2012, they have so far refused to give a date and have been expressing concerns about the milestones that have to be met before voters go the poll.

It was widely expected that when Hon. Henry Bellingham, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, visited the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday July 14, that he would made a major announcement such as releasing the date for elections. However, when pressed by The SUN to give a date, he refused.

He said the Constitution has been passed, and that was a major milestone, but he is not prepared to say categorically that all of the work will be completed in time for elections.

“As far as the elections are concerned, I made it absolutely clear that there is every chance that they will take place next year, but you’ve got to meet the milestones. To make an announcement of a definite date, I can’t do that because it is not possible for me to say categorically that all of the Ordinances will go through. For example, we’ve got to the start work on the Ordinance governing the electoral process.

“If the milestones are met, there’s a very, very good chance of elections, but it’s in the hands of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Bellingham said. “They’ve got to work together on this process so we can have elections and you will then have a democratically elected government back in place. We have goodwill in place and with the Interim Government keeping up the tempo, we will make enough progress with those milestones and have elections next year, but I’m not prepared to say we are definitely going to do that. The events are beyond my control. I can’t say categorically that all of the work will be completed but I am very confident that the work will be completed and we will have elections.”

However, in the House of Commons on June 23, 2011, MP Emma Reynolds asked Bellinghman what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of the Turks and Caicos Islands meeting the milestones prior to 2012. He replied: “There has not been sufficient progress to date against the milestones to conclude that they will be met prior to 2012. However, following a visit to London last week by a Turks and Caicos Islands delegation, good progress is now being made on the new Turks and Caicos Islands constitution.”

Bellingham said the milestones set out by myself and the Minister of State for International Development on December 9th last year, point the way to that future, as well as being crucial to our ability to set a date for elections in 2012. He noted that he was delighted that they were able to complete the substantive work on the first milestone, amendments to the constitution at the end of the visit of the Turks and Caicos Island delegation to the UK last month.

The Guam United Nations Papers - Statement of Governor Eddie Baza Calvo

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THE QUESTION OF GUAM

STATEMENT

OF THE

GOVERNOR OF GUAM EDDIE BAZA CALVO

BY: CLARE CALVO

BEFORE THE

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION 

June 21, 2011

Hafa Adai & Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman Carrion-Mena and members of the Special Committee on Decolonization. My name is Clare Baza Calvo and I am first and foremost a daughter of Guam. As well, I am president and founding member of Conscious Living Nonprofit Organization. Our mission is to bring forth wellness and healing to Guam and her people. Through social change rooted deeply in love and respect for the interconnectedness of all life, we strive to cultivate self-empowerment by taking responsible steps to improve our over-all livelihood on our beautiful island. I AM HERE BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF EDDIE BAZA CALVO, GOVERNOR OF GUAM. HE CONVEYS HIS SINCEREST APOLOGIES FOR NOT APPEARING TODAY; HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR HAS PREPARED A WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN WHICH I WILL NOW READ:

EDDIE BAZA CALVO: TESTIMONY 500 YRS OVERDUE

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the United Nations, the people of Guam need your help. We are bearing a great burden. Colonialism has weighed down upon our people for nearly 500 years. This half millennium of external rule has taken its toll. Our Chamorro ancestors came to Guam centuries before the Polynesians arrived in Hawaii. Our Chiefs held law over the land before the Kings of Europe. Our latte stones were built as the Mayans built their pyramids. Yet the only written history of this advanced and unique people are the accounts of foreigners—of Spanish Conquistadors and priests.

Our island suffered over 230 years of Spanish colonial rule. Chamorros were devastated by new diseases, war, and oppression. After the Spanish-American War, the United States claimed Guam, and rule began under the Naval government. Once again, Chamorros had no representation, and no say in their future. Japan's foray into imperialism during World War II was especially brutal for Guam, when Chamorros suffered atrocities from the Japanese Imperial Army. Our women were raped. Our men were beheaded. Chamorro families were marched into caves and exterminated like vermin. After three years of pain and suffering, America finally stormed the beaches of our island on July 1944 to take back the island. The occasion is known as Liberation Day, but while we were liberated from slavery and war, the Chamorros were still suppressed under colonialism. One of Guam's liberators, a brave American named Darrell Doss said it best. Quote.


Fifty-nine years ago, on July 21, 1944, I and more than 57,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors came ashore on the beaches of Asan and Agat, and were honored to be referred to as ‘liberators.’ But in the end, we failed to accomplish what we had come to do -- liberate you. More correctly, our government failed both of us by not granting the people of Guam full citizenship. Another injustice is not allowing Guam to have equal say, as we in the states do in governing your island home. Please remember, we men who landed on your shores July 21, 1944, shall never be fully satisfied until you are fully liberated. Unquote.


Worse yet, the Chamorro people have yet to even receive reparations for the atrocities they suffered. The United States has already acknowledged the need to address wrongdoings during World War II, which is why Japanese-Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes during the war have been compensated. These reparations were justified. Thousands of Japanese-Americans underwent forced internment, the motivations racist and ignorant. But what of our greatest generation on Guam? The Chamorros of World War II endured slavery, occupation, murder, and genocide. Yet, the U.S. Government is silent in its obligations to war reparations. Our island anxiously awaits the day where our people can receive the same amount of respect, as fellow Americans who endured unimaginable evil during that time. The silence from the administering power on this issue reinforces the point that Guam can no longer remain a colony in perpetuity.

Ladies and gentlemen, for nearly half a millennium the Chamorro people have been unable to reach their full socio-economic potential because of our political status. Now, more than ever, it is important to move forward, while there are still Chamorros left to express our right to self-determination. I am thankful our administering power: the United States recognizes this right and need. The Obama administration has agreed to match local funding I have allocated for our decolonization efforts. The Government of Guam is committed to a plebiscite. I personally would like to see a vote taken in the next general election or election thereafter. What is most important is to make sure our Chamorros make an educated decision on the political status they want to move toward.

To say, “exercising this human right is long overdue” is a gross understatement. For far too long the Chamorro people have been told to be satisfied with a political status that does not respect their wishes first. For far too long the native people of Guam have been dealing with inequality of government. We have been dealing with taxation without full representation, with quasi-citizenship and partial belonging. Now it is time for us to realize our full political destiny, so we can take control and lead and live the way that is best for our people.

I am urging this body to support our human rights as citizens of this world, to help us become citizens of a place—of our place in this world. Kao siña un ayuda ham ni' ManChamoru. Kao siña un rikoknisa i direchon-måmi para in-din-tet-minan maisa. Ayuda ham humago' i guinifen-måmi. Manespisiåt ham. Mambanidosu ham. ManChamoru ham. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Guam.




The Guam United Nations Papers - Statement of Edward Alvarez, Guam Decolonization Commission

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THE QUESTION OF GUAM

STATEMENT

OF THE

EDWARD ALVAREZ

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMISSION ON DECOLONIZATION

GOVERNMENT OF GUAM

BEFORE THE

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION

JUNE 21, 2011

HAFA ADAI (GREETINGS) CHAIRMAN FRANCISCO CARRION-MENA, ALL GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND THE COMMITTEE OF 24 AMBASSADORS.

MY NAME IS EDWARD ALVAREZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GUAM COMMISSION ON DECOLONIZATION. WHILE ATTENDING THE SEMINAR IN ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINE ISLANDS LAST MONTH, I REPORTED THAT GUAM HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN A POSITIVE LIGHT REGARDING DECOLONIZATION IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. THE GOVERNMENT OF GUAM WILL BE EMBARKING ON AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO PARLAY OUR SITUATION TO A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE. IN ADDITION, GUAM’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO APPROPIATE MONEY FOR A CHAMORRO SELF-DETERMINATION EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN. THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR HAS EXPRESSED INTENT TO FUND THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE.

HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LAST 20 YEARS THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE, COUPLED WITH ALL THE HISTORIC TESTIMONY, IT MADE SENSE TO ME THAT IT WAS TIME TO EXPLORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED. I WOULD ASSUME BY NOW, WE ALL MUST BE EAGER TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS ISSUE AND DELIST THE 16 REMAINING NON-SELF GOVERNING TERRITORIES.

OUR HONORABLE GOVERNOR, EDUARDO BAZA CALVO, HAS GIVEN THIS ISSUE PRIMACY AND AIMS TO HOLD A PLEBISCITE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR THE EXERCISE OF CHAMORRO SELF-DETERMINATION. CHAMORROS ON GUAM HAVE CLEARLY BEEN DEFINED AS THE COLONIZED PEOPLE ON GUAM WITH THE INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN LOCAL LEGISLATION PUBLIC LAW 23-147 AND GOVERNOR CALVO INTENDS TO UPHOLD THIS POSITION.

 MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE DO NOT INTEND TO DRAFT A CONSTITUTION AT THIS TIME; RATHER, WILL PURSUE THE RESOLUTION OF GUAM’S POLITICAL STATUS BY FACILITATING THE PROCESS OF CHAMORROS EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION- PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDST OF THE MILITARY BUILD-UP AND THE STATE OF THE WORLD ECONOMY.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA HAS ASSERTED IN THE CASE OF EGYPT. THAT THEY HAVE INALIENABLE RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO THEIR OWN POLITICAL DESTINY, AND THE UNITED STATES WILL STAND UP FOR THEM EVERYWHERE; THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO CHAMORROS ON GUAM.

HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, YOU STATED IN ST.VINCENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE "FRESH IDEAS" AND ENCOURAGE US TO BE IMAGINATIVE FELL IN LINE WITH THE STATEMENTS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OUR GOVERNOR AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A RENEWED SENSE OF COMMITTMENT TO THIS ISSUE AND HOPE THAT ALL LEVELS OF ADVOCACY IN THE UNITED NATIONS WILL BE AFFORDED TO THE PEOPLE OF GUAM.

THEREFORE, I PROPOSE A DUAL APPROACH ALONG THIS LINE TO PARLAY THE AWARENESS AND PLIGHT OF THE COLONIZED CHAMORRO PEOPLE WHOSE POLITICAL DESTINY IS WAY OVER DUE.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1) A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO HELP IN FACILITATING THIS ISSUE IN CONGRESS AS WE ENGAGE THEM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THEN WE WILL REACH OUT TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PROGRAMS TO GET OUR STORY TOLD AND MESSAGE ACROSS. WE WILL THEN SEEK ADVOCACY FROM AS MANY GROUPS, ORGANZATIONS, CELEBRITIES AS WE CAN AND BEGIN MAKING THE CASE THAT OUR PRESENT RELATIONSHIP NEEDS TO END.

2) THE UNITED NATIONS ADVOCATE FOR GUAM AND PUT PRESURE ON THE U.S. WE WILL DO THIS THROUGH A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND MAY REQUEST AN INVITATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.

CONCLUSION

HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, THE TIME HAS COME FOR ALL OF US TO COME TO GRIPS WITH WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST FOR THE CHAMORRO PEOPLE OF GUAM AND WE ARE ASSURED THAT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, OUR QUEST AS A NON SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORY WILL BE A SUCCESS.

SI YUUS MA’ASE AND THANK YOU HONORABLE CHAIRMAN FROM THE COLONIZED PEOPLE OF GUAM.

The Guam United Nations Papers - Statement of LisaLinda Natividad, Guahan Coalition for Peace & Justice

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THE QUESTION OF GUAM

STATEMENT

OF THE

GUAHAN COALITION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

BY: LISALINDA NATIVIDAD, PHD

before the

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION

Introduction

Hafa dai (greetings) your Excellency Mr. Chairman Carrion-Mena and distinguished members of the Special Committee on Decolonization. Un dangkulo na si Yu’os ma’ase (a sincere thank-you) for the opportunity to share perspectives relative to the progress of decolonization and priority areas on the Question of Guam to this most esteemed committee.

I am Dr. LisaLinda Natividad, a Chamorro professor at the University of Guam and a recently appointed member of the Guam Commission on Decolonization. However, I present testimony today in my capacity as President of the Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice; a Guam-based coalition comprised of grassroots organizations advocating for the political, cultural, social, environmental, and human rights of the people of Guam.

Our coalition is an active member of various regional and global networks related to militarism and has been a consistent voice of dissent for Guam relative to the hyper-militarization plans of our administering power, the United States. In 2006, the U.S. entered into a bilateral agreement with the government of Japan that revealed the U.S.’s plans to transfer 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. This process occurred without any consultation of Guam leaders or the Chamorro people; rather, was learnt about through U.S. mainstream media sources. The unresolved political status of Guam is the underlying condition that allows for such policy development. In the words of U.S. military Captain Robert Lee, “We’re seeing a realignment of forces away from Cold War theatres to Pacific theatres and Guam is ideal for us because it is a US territory and therefore gives us maximum flexibility.”1 These telling words validate how Guam’s current colonial condition sets the stage for the exploitation of our land and the rights of the Chamorro people in support of the U.S. militarist agenda.

Militarization of Guam

It was the announcement of the planned military build-up of our island that prompted a return of our people to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization after a nearly 10 year absence to evoke your support and advocacy in the face of major plans for the further exploitation of Guam. Our absence of 10 years is indicative of the lack of faith and hope that we had come to know of the United Nations. Since the announcement of the Guam military build-up in 2006, we have ensured that every single year, members of our Chamorro community have come before the United Nations pleading for your intervention. So the story I will share today is not a new one. It is one that you have heard annually for the past six years and echoes the same calls to action from the United Nations that has been requested for three generations of Chamorros at this forum, yet nonetheless; our political status remains unresolved.

As I speak, my son of eleven years, Atdao-mami, sits in this hall and if the past is a predictor of the future- his generation of Chamorros will continue to revisit this place as though our words are falling on deaf ears today. So as you hear the dismal realities of our island home, we ask that you do something different. We ask that you focus on the specific actions that can be taken by the United Nations and this esteemed committee to bring about change and resolution to the question of Guam.

The most recently passed United Nations Resolution on the Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination states:

"The General Assembly…Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence,

Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations,

Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world [and]

Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment…”

While these firm words express support for our circumstances, our Guam experience has been that it is not coupled with the authority to bring about change in such circumstances. On September 20, 2010, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations, and Environment), Jackalyne Pfannensteil, signed and released the Record of Decision on the Guam build-up, setting into motion the awarding of Department of Defense contracts for construction and other projects. This occurred even after approximately 10,000 comments were submitted by members of our community on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) raising concerns about the social, cultural, and economic impacts to those living outside military fences.

In spite of the intensity of community outcry during the DEIS process, the only changes reflected in the U.S. Department of Defense Final Environmental Impact Statement was to spread out the plan of implementation to comply with United States Environmental Protection Agency concerns about the overtaxing of the island’s utility and wastewater system and treatment plants.

Our resistance to the increased military presence on Guam is rooted in an exploitative relationship with the U.S. military. Militarism has historically been used as the imperial hammer that ensures the suppression of Guam’s colonized peoples. As one of the longest colonized peoples in the world, Chamorros have experienced the ill effects of militarization for many centuries. In particular, U.S. military presence in Guam and Micronesia has resulted in radiation exposure, environmental devastation, and toxic contamination of the island and its people. These catastrophic effects are evidenced in the poor health outcomes of Chamorros. Despite advocacy efforts of groups on Guam for compensation for radiation exposure as a result of downwinds from atomic testing between the 1940s and the 1960s in the Marshall Islands, Guam residents are still not eligible for compensation through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of U.S. Congress.

In addition, the island has had 19 superfund sites, which are, “the federal government’s program to clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.”2 In addition to Superfund sites, there are 95 Installation Restoration Program sites located on the island’s current military bases. Consistent with pervasive exposure to these toxic sites, Chamorros have manifested excessively disproportionately higher rates of cancer as compared to many other ethnic groups on Guam, as well as compared to U.S. national averages. The 2003-2007 Guam Cancer Facts and Figures reported, “an 18% increase in the annual age-adjusted incidence rates”.3 Further, excessively high rates of rare types of cancer such as cancer of the nasopharynx and oral cancer are also manifested by Chamorros.

There are a myriad of other concerns connected to the militarization of Guam. For example, it has resulted in a segregated school system as a result of the Guam Department of Education being found to provide substandard education. Rather than providing additional resources to ensure access to adequate education for all children on Guam, the Department of Defense established its own premiere school system. In addition, the U.S. military has taken land under its control with its current footprint of approximately 33% of Guam today. However, there is great controversy over the additional landtaking of 2,200 acres in the north of the island intended for the construction of a live firing range complex in the ancient historical and sacred Chamorro village of Pagat. There is currently a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Defense on this issue. With the acquisition of Pagat, the U.S. military will increase its presence on Guam to roughly 45% of the island. Lastly, increased militarization of Guam will result in the continued political minoritization of the Chamorro people when a self-determination plebiscite is realized.

Recommendations

In light of these concerns, the Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice offers the following recommendations:


1. That Guam remain on the list of Non-Self Governing Territories until Chamorros have had an opportunity to exercise our inalienable human right to political self-determination;


2. That the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization reaffirms and declares that Guam’s militarization plans by the administering power, the United States, poses an impediment to the exercise of the Chamorro peoples’ human right to self-determination and decolonization;


3. That the United Nations provide both financial and technical assistance for an educational campaign for all people of Guam relative to the political status plebiscite in the near future;


4. That the United Nations sends a Visiting Mission to observe the plebiscite that should occur in the next five years; and


5. That the United Nations adopt a Resolution that reflects a case by case decolonization plan for each of the non-self governing territory to be achieved in the Third Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

In closing, un dangkulo na si Yu’os ma’ase (many thanks) for the opportunity to share the experience of Guam and the Chamorro people with U.S. militarism. We evoke members of this committee to exercise its authority to hold administering powers of the world accountable to the principles of decolonization and true self-determination.

References

1 Bohane, B. America’s Pacific Speartip, The Diplomat, Sept/Oct 2007.


2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/superfund/ on June 16, 2011.


3 Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services Guam Comprehensive Cancer Coalition. 2003-2007 Guam Cancer Facts and Figures published in October 2009.

The Guam United Nations Papers - Statement of Lisa Baza, Conscious Living

*****

THE QUESTION OF GUAM - GUAHAN

STATEMENT OF

CONSCIOUS LIVING

By: LIZA BAZA

BEFORE THE

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION

June 21, 2011

Introduction

Hafa adai (greetings), buenas tardes Your Excellency Mr. Chairman Carrion-Mena and Vice Chairman Mosquera, kushe Vice Chairman Davies, sa’eeda Rapporteur Ja’afari, and distinguished members of the Special Committee on Decolonization. I join our friend from Okinawa and my fellow Guam contingent in expressing our sincere thanks “nifee deebiru’ yan “un dangkulo na si Yu’us ma’ase” for accommodating our respective schedules and allotting each of us an opportunity to participate in this forum.

I am Lisa Baza, a psycho-therapist in public service. I respectfully submit testimony on behalf of Conscious Living, a non-profit holistic wellness organization and our president Clare Calvo, who is a part of this contingent today. It is the mission of Conscious Living to promote holistic wellness, body, mind and spirit.

We come before you today with health disparities (the highest rate of nasopharynx and oral cancer) as reported by Dr. Natividad, a mind in the process of decolonization and the unrelenting spirits of our ancestors, our ma’naina ever present. As we move through this Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020), we are guided by the fundamental and universal principles in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We once again appear before this governing committee to seek justice, long overdue. Further, we join in tenets of General Assembly resolution 65/119 that summarily calls for the elimination of colonialism in this decade through the intensification of efforts to implement a plan of action, and calls upon the administering powers to cooperate in the facilitation of this mandate.

Recommendations

1. That Guam remain on the list of Non-Self Governing Territories until Chamorro’s have had an opportunity to exercise our inalienable human right to political self-determination;

2. That the United Nations provide both financial and technical assistance for an educational campaign for all people of Guam relative to the political status plebiscite in the near future;

3. That the United Nations sends a Visiting Mission to observe the plebiscite that should occur in the next five years;

4. That the United Nations adopt a Resolution that reflects a case by case decolonization plan for each of the non-self- governing territories to be achieved in the Third Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism;

5. That the administering power assist the Territory by facilitating public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory;

6. That should the referendum in five years pass, that a transitional period be established in collaboration with the C24 to encourage compliance with international law, for integration into the United Nations and for economic development purposes;

7. That the United Nations Development Program assists non-self-governing territories financially in order to deal with poverty related issues caused by the economic dependence of non-self-governing territories on the administering power and assist with independent revenue generating economic development; and

8. That the United Nations consider revisiting the development of a Declaration of Rights for Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous people are those who have experienced prior occupancy, dispossession and group identity. The establishment of the rights of indigenous peoples in this permanent forum will allow the colonized voices to be heard and prevent a colonizer from participating and covertly representing the best interest of our administering power.

Self-Determination

Guam is a colony without self-determination and rights to control its own economic and political affairs. Colonization is characterized by ethnic discrimination, political dependence, social inferiority, and economic subjugation. This internalization of inferiority with consequent negative self-definition has led to a question of identity. Guam’s relationship with our administering power is a colonial relationship that clearly contradicts the basic principles of democracy. Whereas our economic, social and political affairs are largely influenced by a government wherein we have no control, nor do we participate in. Our nation cannot continue to enforce democracy throughout the world and at the same time deny political participation to its own citizens.

Guam’s process of self-determination will once again be revisited with a plebiscite within the next five years. Our administering power through the Department of Interior has pledged funding for education as we work towards such plebiscite. We ask the committee to implore our administering powers to follow this mandate.

Scarcity of Resources and Forced Dependency

A significant determinant of dependency on our administering power relates to scarcity of resources as a direct result of uncontrolled immigration. The colonial government advertises immigration as a flexible means of earning a living. Immigration fosters a dichotomy between indigenous peoples and various ethnicities in the struggle to attain limited resources (health, social services, education, natural resources, etc.). Surveys on immigration showed a regional immigrant population on Guam rose 80% since 2003. Preliminary results of a U.S. Census Bureau Survey show that Guam’s population of immigrants from the Freely Associated states has increased by 80 percent since 2003 and is now at 18,305. Fifty-six percent of the FAS immigrants have relocated to Guam instead of Hawaii, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa, according to the survey results. As a result of the scarcity of resources, this generation of immigrants has had little recourse but to become dependent on welfare assistance from our administering power.

In 1962, without input from our people, President Kennedy lifted the Naval Clearing Act which allowed travel to Guam without a security clearance. Twenty-three years later the Compact of Free Association authorized unrestricted immigration into Guam, enabling citizens to establish residences as non-immigrant aliens. Although these diverse populations have contributed to a developing Guam, the social changes have created greater diversity to the detriment of decolonization. Erosion in traditional family structure, decreased standard of living, move from subsistence farming and fishing to a wage based economy have led to an increase in crime rates, an increase in poverty, a high drop- out rate and forced dependency on welfare. Our youth are subjected to tremendous pressure to conform to western values that often run counter to the traditional values of our indigenous people.

Indigenous Practices and Cultural Preservation

Indigenous research and practice is about bringing to the center and privileging indigenous values, attitudes and practices rather than disguising them in Westernized labels such as collaborative research. Traditional knowledge is unique to persons of this territory. Knowledge is accessible to all within a culture, developed over a lifetime and requires respect and reverence. Traditional knowledge is sacred to members of a culture and is protected. Language is intimately connected to traditional forms of knowledge. Likewise spiritual and healing practices.

The impediment or challenge to decolonization includes introduction of teaching practices and values of our administering power. For example, the Direct Instruction program, a highly supported and funded evidence- based phonics program resurging from the No Child Left Behind initiative. This move from whole language to phonics deemphasizes cultural phonetics and language nuances of the Chamorro people. The entire history of public education by our administering power has been a political one, designed primarily to domesticate lower socio-economic groups, in this instance our Chamorro people.

Similarly, most aspects of our traditional knowledge base that differs from the dominant Western worldview appear to be inappropriately pathologized. For example, a traditional person seeking help from a suruhana for treatment of physical, emotional, or spiritual adverse symptoms may be considered to be using primitive practices. Therefore, traditional medicinal practices on Guam are facilitated in a covert manner to prevent sanctions on licensures and applicable laws mirroring those of our administering power.

Psychological Decolonization

In psychology, colonized individuals are often exposed to imperialism at the expense of their cultural values. They are subjected to what is referred as the cultural Stockholm syndrome, a condition in which members of an oppressed group accept the dominant cultural values, including the stereotypes of their own group. The Stockholm syndrome involves being taken hostage by other people's cultures and perceptions of themselves, while coming to internalize and believe them. Hence, politically repressed people maintain the privileges of the administering power, thus silencing cries for social justice. For colonized people, colonization creates pervasive identity conflicts, alienation, self-denial, assimilation, strong ambivalence, and a fundamental need for change.

A process of therapeutic decolonization entails raising consciousness of the colonized mentality, correcting cognitive distortions, recognizing the contexts of colonization, affirming collective identities, and working for personal and collective transformation. Indigenous approaches effectively enable colonized people to share their cultural struggles and subsequent quest for independence. This C24 forum creates a space for the indigenous voices and action oriented resolutions in our movement.

Conclusion

Achieving liberation demands more than advocacy. Toni Morrison (1994) stated that the function of freedom is to free someone else. Taking sides and in this permanent forum, choosing to take action on the decolonization process of Guam, a non-self-governing territory, proposes a radical, yet humanistic approach that promotes the liberation of a marginalized people while fostering a balance of self-determination, care, and compassion. Such decisions demand critical consciousness, a process of personal and social transformation that oppressed individuals experience while authoring their own reality.

Our mind is still the mind of the colonizer, justifying all we steal, and our society is still one of conquest. The same war of conquest that coveted our land continues under the guise of national defense and eminent domain. What was once called Manifest Destiny to justify violence, enslavement and genocide that built this country is now called Globalization to justify the final conquest of everything. The greatest resources are found in property lines, our exclusive economic zone, and the acquisition of natural resources because our most important measure of everything is how much can be acquired for free. The consequences of this colonial mindset and colonial war of conquest loom for each one of us, as the living systems of the earth itself are destabilized by greed. Rethinking this mindset requires questioning many of the fundamental operating principles of society as a whole. Ending the colonial war of conquest requires a conscious refocusing of our society away from the glamour of materialism and toward respect for people and their way of life as a simple measure of things.

Gracias yan si Yu’us ma’ase!

References

Amnesty International. (1999). United States of America: Police brutality and excessive force in the New York City police department. London: Author.

Blanco, A. (Ed.). (1998). Psychology of liberation. Spain: Editorial Trotta.

Guam Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Government of Guam, Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority, April 2003.

Kingsbury, B. (1998). Indigenous peoples in international law: A constructivist approach to the Asian controversy. American Journal of International Law 92(3).

Natividad, Lisalinda, Ph.D., Health disparities. Interview on June 1, 2011.

Pacific Daily News, Hagatna, Guam, March 4, 2009.

Ryder, R.J., Burton, J.L. and Silberg, A. (2006). Longitudinal study of direct instruction effects from first through third grade. Journal of Educational Research 99(3), 179-191.

United Nations. (1990). UN Committee on Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights: General Comment Number 3. (UN Doc. E/1991/23/Annex III). New York: Author.

United States President's Initiative on Race. (1998). One America in the 21st century: Forging a new future. Washington, DC: Author.

Walker, Webster, Article, April 16, 2001.

The Guam United Nations Papers - Statement of Yasukatsu Matsushima, We are Loochoo

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WE ARE LOOCHOO

By Dr. YASUKATSU MATSUSHIMA

Before the

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE of 24 on DECOLONIZATION

66th Session

Towards the Demilitarizaton of Guam

21 June 2011

Kuyoonaara(Hello)

I appreciate for Your Excellency Francisco Carrion-Mena, Chairperson of the Special Committee of 24, members of the Special Committee on Decolonization to give me the opportunity to speak before your Committee.

1. Introduction

I am Dr.Yasukatsu Matsushima, an Okinawan. I was born and raised on Okinawa. Okinawa consists of 160 islands in the EastAsia Sea surrounded by Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines and its population is about 1.4million. I will appeal that the necessity of demilitarization of Guam from the perspective of Okinawa because the militarization of Guam and Okinawa has been linked strongly by US and Japanese Governments.

2.The Brief History of How Guam and Okinawa Share the Colonization

The militarization of Guam is linked with the building of new bases on Okinawa and the moving of 8,522 US Marines, 9,000 their dependents from Okinawa to Guam. Japanese Government has paid public funds to make new bases on Guam and its Self-Defense Forces has been training with US Forces on Guam. Why Guam and Okinawa is related militarily by US and Japanese Governments? We should understand the historical background of the colonization of Guam and Okinawa. As Guam has been controlled by Spain, US, Japan and now US, Okinawa has been under the control of Japan, US and now Japan and US.

.In1879, Japanese Government annexed Ryukyu Kingdom with its military invasion and started to rule Okinawa as its colony. The Japanese Government has imposed colonialist policies, prohibiting the Okinawan language in school ..Also in Guam, Chamorros had been forced to speak English in school until 1950s. It can be called a cultural genocide.

In 1945, Japanese Government had used Okinawa as a battle ground. The number of the Okinawan fatalities reached around 150 thousand. In 1941, Immediately after Pearl Harbor, Japanese Forces occupied and controlled Guam until 1944. Many Chamorros had been massacred,killed by the Japanese soldiers and destroyed land of Guam thoroughly. Japanese Government has not done the war reparations for Chamorros until now.

During Pacific War, in Guam a lot of lands of Chamorros had been deprived by US Government to make military bases. Okinawa had been directly under the control of US Military Government. Many lands of Okinawans were taken by US Government with weapons.

In 1950s, US Marine Bases had been moved from Japanese Main Islands to Okinawa. Now US Marines will move to Guam.

In 1962, following the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Ryukyu Legislature passed a resolution, stating that the US rule over Okinawa violated the principles of self-determination and non-expansion of territories prescribed in the UN Charter. This resolution was sent to all 104 member States of the UN at that time.

In 1972, the colonial administration of Okinawa was retransferred from US to Japan. The strong wishs of Okinawans to remove all US bases were ignored. Military bases and economic activities become connected each other in Guam and Okinawa, but almost benefits of base-related economies have gone out of these islands to other places. The military policies on Guam and Okinawa have been decided by US and Japanese Governments unilaterally to ignore these peoples’ claims. So the colonization of Guam and Okinawa has been very clear militarily, politically, and economically.

But Chamorros has used international networks for the decolonization by their groups such as OPI-R(Organization of People for Indigenous Rights), Guhan Coalition for Peace and Justice, We are Guahan and Chamorro Nation and so on. Also Okinawans has participated to UN organizations to resolve colonization problems. In 1996 I had participated to UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. Until now, Okinawans have taken part in several UN organizations to decolonize, and demilitarize Okinawa.

In 2006, Dr. Deu Deu Dien,a special reporter of UN Commission on Human Rights, came to survey military bases on Okinawa. He reported that Okinawan situation was abnormal and Japanese Government discriminated against Okinawans. In 2010, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said that US military base problems on Okinawa are racial discrimination to Okinawans.

3.Towards the Demilitarization of Guam

If US Marines will move from Okinawa to Guam, Chamorro people will face many problems such like Okinawan cases. We must understand military base problems on Okinawa because ‘Build Up’ in Guam is conditioned to that of Okinawa by US and Japanese Governments.

74% of US military bases in Japan have been concentrated in Okinawa which covers only 0.6% of all Japanese territory. Many military bases reside in small and highly populated island. That is why there are so many accidents and crimes committed by US personnels.

We have faced such serious damages as fieldfires and bomb accidents caused by live ammunition practices, planes and helicopters crashes, deafening roar, t raffic accidents, destruction of environment and historical sites, indigenous cultural heritages, infringements upon the daily life of the Okinawans and so on. From 1972 to 2010, military related criminal cases have occurred 5,705. From 1972 to 2010, accidents and incidents related to Military training have occurred 1,545.

Two of the most shocking cases are the rape case by 3 US soldiers against a schoolgirl (12years old) in 1995 and the US helicopter crash in 2004 at Okinawa International University. This helicopter belonged to Futenma Air Base.

The Japanese Government hasn’t changed the Agreement on the Status of US Armed Forces in Japan in spite of the strong outrage of almost all Okinawans. This Agreement gives the US military personnels the special privileges to refuse handing over suspects to Japanese authority and on-the-spot inspections.

In 2006, US and Japanese Governments agreed on Roadmap for Realignment Implementation of US bases. This Roadmap includes the reversion of Futenma Air Base and 5 other facilities, after the completion of Futenma Relocation Facility in Henoko, Nago City, and moving of 8,522 Marines, 9,000 their dependents from Okinawa to Guam.Futenma issue and Guam realignment are “package”. Japanese Government has been complicit in the construction of new bases in Guam by supplying large public fund ($6.09 billion) even though the big earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accidents have occurred in Japan after March 11 this year. Excuse to pay money, Japanese Government will send more their Self-Defense Forces to Guam for military training.

So much of Okinawans reject the plan of construction of new military base on coral reef of Henoko.Okinawa Pref.Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and Nago City Mayor Susumu Inafuku also refuse to accept a new base anywhere in Okinawa.

Okinawans are against moving of US Marines to Guam and the construction of new bases there because the colonial situation of Guam will be fixed so deeply and the militarization on Guam is against the process of decolonization on UNC-24.

The reduction of bases on Okinawa will promote that of Guam. I think the relationship of Guam and Okinawa is like sisters and brothers. We insist that Guam should be demilitarized on this decolonization process in UN C-24.

I appreciate Former Senator Hope Cristobal and Dr.Lisa Natividad so much for accepting me for a member of Guam delegation and giving a chance to speak in UN C-24.

Niifaiyou (Thank You)

References

Joseph Ada (1993) The State of the Colony, Guam Government,


Wakako Higuchi (2001) “The Japanisation Policy for the Chamorros of Guam, 1941-1944” in The Journal of Pacific History,Vol.36,No.1


Okinawa Prefectural government (2011), US Military Base Issues in Okinawa,Okinawa Prefectural Government


Political Status Education Coordinating Commission (ed.) (1996)Issues in Guam's Political Development: The Chamorro Perspective, The Political Status Education Coordinating Commission


R.Rogers (1995) Destiny’s Landfall-A History of Guam, University of Hawaii Press


Pedro　Sanchez (1988) Guahan Guam-The History of Our Island, Sanchez Publishing House　


Ronald Stade (1998) Pacific Passages-World Culture and Local Politics in Guam, Stockholm Studies in Social Anthropology


Robert Underwood (1998) The State of Guam’s Agenda in Washington 1997, The Office of Underwood


Yasukatsu Matsushima (2007) Micronesia - The Challenge of Islands’ Peoples for Self-governance, Waseda University Press(Japanese version)

Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Supports Guam Self-determination process

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By Therese Hart

Marianas Variety

Guam Reporter . HAGÅTÑA — During the recent 30th General Assembly Conference held in Palau, member island nations of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures passed a resolution supporting Guam’s struggle for self-determination and the decision of its residents to hold a plebiscite.

The APIL members vowed to acknowledge and support, “both in their country of origin and in international bodies that they may be party to, the struggle for Guam’s self-determination and the decision of the People of Guam that may come of any plebiscite,” according to the resolution.

Speaker Judi Won Pat, who is the current APIL vice president, said: “As our island moves toward our self-determination, it is important to ask for the support of our regional family. Many of the members of the Association of the Pacific Island Legislatures have permanent missions to the United Nations – and they are in the perfect position to support whatever status our people choose for our future in that international body. I am excited that the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas has passed their own resolution in support of our path so quickly after the APIL General Assembly, and I thank them sincerely for their efforts.”

The United States placed Guam on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories in 1946, and Guam is still identified as such at both a national and international level.

Regional leaders from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Federated States of Micronesia, which is composed of the States of Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei, are all members of the United Nations, where they either participate, or are able to participate, as independent countries, and take part in important votes regarding the direction of the United Nations. They have all vowed to support the “decolonization of Guam.”

Won Pat said it was important that Guam’s quest is supported and endorsed by its neighboring islands and she hoped that APIL members will promote, recognize and work to support Guam’s path to political self-determination at local, national and international levels.

“This is important because when our colleagues from these neighboring islands bring up Guam during conversations at these levels, it causes a ripple effect and we are maximizing our network so that the conversation will circulate, therefore, we will not be ignored or forgotten,” said Won Pat.

Univ. of Guam Cooperates with Phillippines Institute on Engineering Program

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UOG SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH PHILIPPINES' MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

to support Engineering Program

University of Guam President Robert A. Underwood and Mapua Institute of Technology (Phillippines) President Reynaldo B. Vea signed an agreement on June 21 to develop academic relations between the two institutions which will support UOG’s efforts to launch an engineering school.

The Mapúa Institute of Technology’s electrical engineering, electronics engineering and computer engineering have been granted accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the recognized accreditor of engineering and technology programs in the United States. The Mapua Institute of Technology is the only educational institution in the Philippines to achieve ABET accreditation.

The agreement will enhance relations between the two institutions and further the development of academic and cultural exchanges. The two institutions hope to promote cooperation in such areas as faculty and student exchanges, training and study programs, collaborative teaching projects, collaborative scholarship, and other joint endeavors according to principles of reciprocity, common understanding, and mutual benefit.

“This agreement will enable us to forge a strong relationship as we seek ways to enhance our programs,” said UOG President Robert A. Underwood. “This relationship with the Mapua Institute of Technology brings us in close communication with the only institution with ABET accredited programs in East Asia. Their close geographic proximity will benefit our students and both of our institutions.”

ABET, Inc. is the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. Among the most respected accreditation organizations in the U.S., ABET has provided leadership and quality assurance in higher education for over 75 years.ABET accredits over 3,100 programs at more than 600 colleges and universities worldwide.

Univ. of Guam President Named Vice Chair of Asian Pacific Islander University Association

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President Robert Underwood to lead group of colleges, universities serving Asian American, Pacific Islander students


MANGILAO, Guam-The University of Guam President Robert Underwood, Ed.D., has been named vice chairman of the board of directors for the Asian Pacific Islander American Association of Colleges and Universities, which was launched yesterday to help address the complex set of social realities facing students in the underrepresented and underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Underwood will help lead the new national umbrella organization and advocate on behalf of all Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions-minority-serving institutions designated by Congress that have at least a 10 percent enrollment of AAPI students and have a significant number of AAPI students who are Pell Grant eligible, among other criteria-to better serve the unique needs of the nearly 1.2 million AAPI students attending these institutions across the nation.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APIACU supports AANAPISIs in a manner similar to that which the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education serve Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, respectively.

The mission of APIACU has four objectives: (1) To promote the development of member colleges and universities; (2) to improve the quality of postsecondary educational opportunities and access thereto for AAPI students; (3) to meet the needs of business, industry, and government through the development and sharing of resources, information, and expertise; and (4) to support and lobby for the success of AANAPISIs through the development of programmatic activities of AANAPISIs.

“The University of Guam serves a student population that is over 90 percent Asian and Pacific Islander. This new organization brings national focus to the unique population we serve and allows us to collaborate with other institutions across the country to develop ways to enhance educational experiences and provide additional opportunities to our students,” said Underwood.

Serving along with Underwood on the APIACU board of directors are chair Mark Mitsui, president of North Seattle Community College; and co-vice chair Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of Seton Hall University. Together they will work with APIACU president and CEO Ruby G. Moy to lead the organization.

The idea to develop APIACU was presented last year during the first annual higher education summit held by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund-the nation’s largest nonprofit organization devoted solely to providing college scholarships for AAPI students-in which the group gave its endorsement to create a national organization of this kind.

APIACU was announced during the 2011 APIASF College Completion Forum: Strengthening Institutions that Serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. (UOG)

Sint Maarten to Seek associate membership in The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

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Prime Minister holds preliminary talks at Heads of Government Meeting of CARICOM

Basseterre, St. Kitts

2011 (CUOPM) – St. Maarten has expressed an interest in becoming an Associate Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

This was disclosed by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Chairman of the regional integration movement, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, who said the St. Maarten leader (Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams)  was one of several Heads of government and Institutions, who CARICOM leaders met with during the 32nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government.

“The dynamism and solidity of our Community have encouraged one of our special guests at this meeting, the
Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams to talk with us about submitting a formal request for her country to become an Associate Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister Douglas announced at the Closing Ceremony.

Prime Minister Wescott-Williams, who attended the Opening Ceremony on June 30th, held talks with
Caribbean leaders during the luncheon session of the first caucus at Ottley’s Plantation on Saturday 1st July.

Prime Minister Wescott-Williams during the luncheon meeting brought Caribbean leaders up to date on the recent constitutional changes in Country St. Marten with the Dutch Kingdom.

CARICOM has several Councils on matters of interest to St. Maarten,” said Prime Minister Wescott-Williams in a recent statement reported in the St. Maarten Herald.

In accepting the invitation from Prime Minister Douglas to attend the Conference, the St. Maarten leader said she hoped to discuss “St. Maarten’s involvement in these Councils and eventual membership of CARICOM during the visit to St. Kitts.” The communiqué issued at the end of the conference said:

“Heads of Government and the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams held preliminary discussions with a view to Sint Maarten submitting a formal request to become an Associate Member of the Community.”

During the four-day meeting, Heads of Government also exchanged views with His Excellency Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of Colombia; His Excellency José Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Mr. Andris Piebalgs, European Union Commissioner for Development.

CARICOM Chairman Douglas also met with the Special Envoy of the Government of Cuba, His Excellency Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

CARICOM Member States and Head of Government are Antigua and Barbuda, Dr. the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister; The Bahamas, The Right Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister; Barbados, the Hon. Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister; Belize, the Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister; Dominica, the
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister; Grenada, Hon. Tilman Thomas, Prime Minister; Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President; Haiti, His Excellency Michel Martelly, President; Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding, Prime Minister; Montserrat, the Hon. Reuben Meade, Chief Minister; St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister; St. Lucia, the Hon. Stephenson King, Prime Minister; St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister; Suriname,
His Excellency Desi Bouterse, President; Trinidad and Tobago, the Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister.

Associate Members are Anguilla, Hon. Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister; Bermuda, Hon. Pamela Cox, Premier; British Virgin Islands, Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, Premier; Cayman Islands, Hon. William McKeeva Bush, Premier; and the Turks and Caicos Islands. (OTR Note: Since 2009, elected government has been suspended in the Turks & Caicos Islands by the United Kingdom, the territory's administering power).

In 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of Government Conference decided to transform the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) into a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community, of which the Common Market would be an integral part.

The signing of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community, Chaguaramas, 4th July 1973, was a defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Although a free-trade area had been established, CARIFTA did not provide for the free movement of labour and capital, or the coordination of
agricultural, industrial and foreign policies.

The objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty, are: to improve standards of living and work; the full employment of labour and other factors of production; accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and convergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; enhanced levels of international competitiveness; organisation for increased production and productivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description and the enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional co-operation.

In 1989, when the Heads of Government made the decision to transform the Common Market into a single
market and economy in which factors move freely as a basis for internationally competitive production of goods and provision of services, it was also decided that for the transformation to take place, the Treaty would have to be revised.

In 1992, following the adoption of the report of the West Indian Commission, an Inter-governmental Task Force was established, to work on the revision of theTreaty. Between 1993 and 2000, the Inter-Governmental Task Force (IGTF) which was composed of representatives of all Member States, produced nine Protocols, for the purpose of amending the Treaty. These nine Protocols were later combined to create a new version of the Treaty, called formally, The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

Allowances have been made for the subsequent inclusion in the Revised Treaty, by way of additional Protocols, new issues such as e-commerce, government procurement, trade in goods from free zones, free circulation of goods, and the rights contingent on the free movement of persons.


Erasmus Williams
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Government Headquarters
Church Street
Basseterre, St. Kitts


Tel: 869-465-9698
Fax: 869-466-9997
Cell: 869-665-8422

Integration of Puerto Rico as a U.S. State would reduce representation of remaining U.S. states

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By Stefan Antonmattei

Puerto Rico Daily Sun
 

Territory would gain 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives

 and 2 seats in the U.S. Senate seats 

If Puerto Ricans ever voted to become a state of the union, the island could face a formidable opposition from the very large, and very Republican state of Texas. It could also face resistance from another large populated area, the swing-voting state of Florida which in 2004 voted for George W. Bush but in 2008 voted for Pres. (Barack) Obama. Other states that would lose congressional seats, were Puerto Rico to become a state, are California, Washington, and Minnesota.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Sun, Dr. Dudley L. Poston, Jr., a Texas A&M University professor of sociology said that were Puerto Rico to become a state, the island would gain five U.S. House of Representative seats and two U.S. Senate seats. The study was based on an analysis of the 2010 Census.

“The Congress has the final authority regarding the admission of a new state. Most assume that if Puerto Rico submits a petition for statehood, the House and Senate would pass a resolution authorizing statehood. But I really wonder if the passing of a resolution will be that easy. It will be interesting to see if the senators and representatives from the five states that will lose seats, especially the Republican-voting Texas, and the swing-state of Florida, would favor such a resolution. Texas is a bright red state [Red referring to the color given to represent a Republican state — the governor of Texas, both senators, their legislative body and many of their congressional representatives are Republican]. Seat assignment in the U.S. House is a zero-sum situation. If Puerto Rico (or, for that matter, Washington, D.C.,) became a state, some of the 50 states must necessarily lose seats,” said Dr. Poston.

A White House task force recently recommended that Puerto Rico conduct a plebiscite on its political relationship with the U.S. and decide whether the island wants to remain as a commonwealth, become a state of the U.S., or independent of the U.S. On his June 14 visit to the island, President Obama promised he would support the outcome of the plebiscite. Obama’s “support” for statehood — if that were the result — was conditional on a “substantial majority” of Puerto Ricans voting in favor of statehood. The term “substantial majority” has been used by all former U.S. presidents and congressional leaders with respect to solving the island’s status. The undefined technical definition of a “substantial majority” has never been specified in terms of what exact number or percentage of the vote it would represent.

The U.S. Census Bureau has already determined the distribution of House seats based on data from the 2010 census. According to Dr. Poston’s application of the equal proportions method to the 2010 population data from the Census Bureau, the five states that would lose representatives if Puerto Rico is added as the 51st state are Florida, Washington, Texas, California and Minnesota. Without Puerto Rico as a new state, the 2010 census data show that Texas gains four new seats, Florida two, Washington one, and California and Minnesota none. If Puerto Rico is added as a new state, Texas will only gain three new seats, Florida one, Washington none and California and Minnesota will each lose a seat.

Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico

Both Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959. Alaska was seen as rich in natural resources and Hawaii, as a bridge to Asia. The current population of Alaska is 710,000 and Hawaii 1.3 million. Puerto Rico’s population is 3.7 million. Another 4.6 million Puerto Ricans live on the mainland U.S. More than 800,000 Puerto Ricans live in Florida, a key state in the general elections. Of the 308.7 million Americans living in the states, 50.5 million (16 percent) are Hispanics.

“Statehood has its benefits, both for Puerto Rico and, to a certain degree, for Obama and the Democrats. Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. tend to vote Democratic in presidential elections, particularly in New York where the bulk of the 4.6 million mainland Puerto Ricans live. But this is not the case for Florida where more than 800,000 Puerto Ricans live,” said Dr. Poston.

“Since it is unlikely that the House will increase its number of seats beyond 435, seat assignment is a zero-sum game. If a new state is added, there will not be an increase in the number of House seats. One exception to this rule occurred with the admission of Alaska and Hawaii. For one session of Congress there were 438 seats (one for Alaska and two for Hawaii). However, with the results from the next census in 1960, the House reverted back to its basic number of 435 seats. I doubt that this will occur again, that is, that Congress will allow a temporary increase of more seats for Puerto Rico prior to the 2020 census, and then revert back to 435 seats after the new (2020) census data are issued,” said Dr. Poston.

Recent plebiscites in Puerto Rico

The last two status plebiscites in Puerto Rico, held in 1998 and in 1993 — both held under the pro-statehood administration of Gov. Pedro Rosselló — did not result in a substantial majority for any particular status, be it statehood, commonwealth, or independence. In the 1998 plebiscite an option under the auspices of the pro-commonwealth status Popular Democratic Party named “None of the Above” (Ninguna de las Anteriores) won 50.3 percent (787,900 votes); the pro-statehood garnered 46.5 percent (728,157 votes); and the pro independence party won 2.5 percent (39,838 votes).

In the 1993 plebiscite, the pro-commonwealth position won with 48.6 percent (826,326 votes) versus 46.3 percent (788,296 votes) for statehood, and 4.4 percent (75,620) for independence.

The last plebiscite held in Puerto Rico was in July 2005. Only 22 percent of the more than 2 million registered voters participated. On that date 83.8 percent of the voters (464,010) voted to reduce the legislative body from two chambers to one, and only 16 percent (88,733) voted to keep the current system. To date, nothing has been done about it.

Dr. Poston is a demographer and professor of sociology in the College of Arts at Texas A&M University in College Station. He is also a Guest Professor of Demography at the People’s University in Beijing, China and a Guest Professor of Cultural Studies and Sociology at Fuzhou University, also in China. Prior to Texas A&M, Dr. Poston was a professor at Cornell University and at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include demography, human ecology, and the sociology of gender, with a special attention to the populations of China, Taiwan, and Korea. Earlier in his career, he studied the Hispanic population in the U.S. In 1968 he obtained his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. Dr. Poston is a Vietnam veteran where he served as a 1st Lieutenant and Captain and where he was awarded a Bronze Star.

New rum distillery to open in central Puerto Rico

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Associated Press

 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A new rum distillery will open in a former pharmaceutical plant in central Puerto Rico, helping to offset the loss of Captain Morgan rum from the island, economic officials said Wednesday.

The Club Caribe LLC distillery is scheduled to open in early 2012 in the mountain town of Cidra and will produce 2 million gallons of rum its first year as part of a 20-year deal, said senior vice president Alberto Rivera.The local company is affiliated to Cc1, a Puerto Rican company that distributes Coca-Cola products in the U.S. territory.

Club Caribe expects to employ 25 people and invest $10 million in machinery and equipment as it moves into the old GlaxoSmithKline factory. "We're going to have a significant production of rum on a global level," said Jose Perez-Riera, Puerto Rico's economic development secretary.

The distillery eventually will produce up to 10 million gallons of rum, both to sell in bulk and as private labels including Club Caribe, a white rum; Black Roberts, a spiced rum; and Carlos Rum, a gold rum, Rivera said.

The company will target the U.S. mainland market. "Vodka is the most consumed liquor in the U.S., but that is changing," Rivera said.

The anticipated production of 2 million gallons next year will eventually generate $20 million in revenue for the island, said Jorge Junquera, deputy executive director of the Puerto Industrial Development Company, a state corporation that promotes business on the island.

The type of affiliation that Club Caribe Distillers, LLC, has with Cc1 is unclear, and a spokeswoman for the company did not clarify the relationship.

Puerto Rico is expected to lose $140 million next year as a result of the lucrative production of Captain Morgan rum moving to the neighboring U.S. Virgin Islands.

In January 2009, liquor company Diageo PLC signed a long-term lease to build a Captain Morgan rum distillery in the Virgin Islands in exchange for a portion of the territory's excise-tax revenue, estimated at $2.7 billion over 30 years.The distillery opened in late 2010 on the island of St. Croix and is expected to generate more than $100 million a year in revenue for the next 30 years.

"We are losing a mountain of money with Diageo's departure," Junquera said.

Puerto Rico has argued that its neighbor unfairly lured away business by using revenue from a tax that U.S. consumers pay on every bottle of rum produced in the two Caribbean territories. All but 25 cents of the $13.50 in federal excise taxes levied on per proof gallon of rum produced in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands goes back to the local governments to spend on infrastructure and public services.After the loss of Captain Morgan rum, Puerto Rico pursued several deals to help generate revenue.

In November 2010, legislators voted to increase the amount of money spent on promoting the island's rum industry from 10 percent to 25 percent of federal excise taxes.

In February, the government awarded Bacardi a $95 million grant to renovate its production plant in exchange for maintaining a minimum level of production for the next 20 years, which translates into more than $230 million in yearly revenue through excise taxes.

Puerto Rico's rum industry employs about 4,500 workers and generates $400 million annually, more than 70 percent of which comes from Bacardi.