Leaders Hop Islands For Intel

By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - Fresh off a weekend trip through Saipan, House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia, is leading five other members of Congress on a CODEL (Congressional Delegation tour) to Guam this week. The group's plane was scheduled to touch down this afternoon.

Rahall's committee has jurisdiction over insular areas of the U.S. and is getting a fresh, first-hand look at economic and social conditions in U.S. territories and protectorates across the Pacific. Stops include American Samoa, Palau, Saipan and Guam.

The lineup of traveling leaders include Rahall, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, South Carolina Congressman Henry Brown, Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen, American Samoa Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, and Northern Marianas Delegate Gregorio Sablan.

On American Samoa

In American Samoa, the CODEL was slated to meet with local leaders to field concerns over the scheduled closure of COS Samoa Packing's tuna cannery, which employs over 2,000.

According to Samoa News, Delegate Faleomavaega had earlier stated that the CODEL would "specifically examine the tuna fishing and processing industries and consider what needs to be done to keep StarKist in the territory."

It appears Samoan leaders are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding employment for those who will soon lose their jobs at the factory. As Guam News Factor reported over the weekend, American Samoa's tuna cannery workforce is now being evaluated by a Guam-based employment agency that will determine how skills among these workers might best be utilized to support Guam's military buildup.

On Saipan

While in Saipan yesterday, Rahall, Christensen and Sablan met face-to-face with more than a thousand people gathered in "a show of unity for improved immigration status for long-term guest workers", according to today's edition of the Saipan Tribune.

Saipan and the rest of the CNMI face the federalization of the Commonwealth's labor and immigation come November 28th. The prospect of tighter federal controls has sparked controversy and debate in the CNMI since it was learned that the United States would be taking over these critical economic regulations.

The Commonwealth has maintained control over its own labor and immigration for more than 30 years, a period that has given rise to labor abuse, manipulation, infractions and crime. Some in the CNMI argue that federalization will ruin what's left of the struggling economy. Others see economic advantage in warming up to Washington and supporting the military buildup on Guam with everything from training exercises to service contracts.

Right now, the Commonwealth economy is facing dire straits. According to the Saipan Tribune:

Critical juncture in CNMI history

The Rahall congressional delegation's arrival comes at a critical moment for the CNMI, which will be under transition to a federal immigration system by Nov. 28.

The CNMI economy has also been in a downward trend especially now that the once almighty garment industry is gone and the remaining industry-tourism-is on continuous decline.

The Chinese and Russian tourism markets, which the CNMI has also relied on for the past years, is expected to be almost wiped out when federalization comes because the joint Guam-CNMI visa waiver program excludes these countries.

And with only months before this critical juncture in the Commonwealth's history, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to issue regulations that will govern the CNMI-only transitional worker program and the foreign investor and foreign student program.

Rep. Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) said the imminent federalization of the CNMI immigration system has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the islands' future.

The Tribune reports that Saipan is expecting followup visits by U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staffers, including former Insular Affairs official Allen Stayman. Tony Babauta will also visit Saipan. Babauta was recently tapped by President Obama to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs.

On Guam

On Guam the leaders are expected to get an on-the-ground glimpse of life as we know it on Guam in the year leading up to a multi-billion-dollar, decade-long military buildup.

Here is a partial schedule of the CODEL's scheduled activities for the week, as posted at Pacific News Center:

August 10, 2009:

August 12, 2009:

8:30 a.m. Wreath Laying Ceremony, Asan Bay Overlook Unit of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park.

11:00 a.m. Presidential Lecture Series featuring Chairman Rahall, CLASS Lecture Hall, University of Guam

1:30 p.m. CODEL Press Conference, Hyatt Regency Guam

Guam News Factor has requested photo ops and interviews with Rahall and the rest of the Congressional delegation. The Factor will keep you posted on their unfolding visit this week.

Read the Saipan Tribune story, "Ray of hope for guest workers", August 10, 2009.

Read the Samoa News story, "CODEL welcomed to American Samoa".

Read the Pacific News Center story, "Congressional Delegation Arrives This Afternoon; Led by Congressman Nick Rahall, August 10, 2009.

Read more about Congressman Rahall at Wikipedia.org.

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Name: Email:  do not notifynotify Website: Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge     Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

GumChewer  - Chew on this!   |2009-08-10 14:28:19 No way no how is this clown going to do anything other than smile as he passes through. These CODEL things do very little if anything for Guam. It is just a way to get a paid trip away from Washington or some other crappy place. I suppose Congresswoman Bordallo does get credit for getting on their good sides. So, Great!, I guess? Reply | Quote 0   0

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