Welcome to the Office of the Governor of Guam

Acting Governor Michael W. Cruz, MD, signed an Executive Order today, creating the Health Reform Advisory Task Force, whose mission will be to improve health care for all residents on Guahan in conjunction with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

                The Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB) Board of Governors held a special meeting in Palau on Friday, July 30, primarily to review and address the bank’s capacity and resource base, vital to its growth and expansion strategy.  While the bank has consistently grown in total assets and loan balances in the past five years, increasing its financial resources and capacity remains one of its immediate and highest priorities.  The Board, recognizing that need, formed a four-member special Task Force whose main task and objective is to identify and pursue various funding and capitalization sources.  ”PIDB plays a significant and expanding role in promoting and facilitating the economic development of our island communities”, said Gov. Felix Camacho, Chairman of the PIDB Board of Governors.  He added that “we need to secure the necessary resources the bank needs in order to carry out its mission and purpose and forming the Task Force is timely”.   Aren Palik, Bank President & CEO, indicated that the bank has been undercapitalized since its inception and cautioned that securing additional capitalization and funding will not be an easy task.  “With the ongoing global recession and the economic and financial challenges faced by many industrialized countries, securing additional capital especially through soft loans will not be easy”.  Palik added, “the Task Force will work diligently and collaborate with our member governments and development partners as we pursue funding from both public and private sources”.

                Governor Robert Weilbacher of Kosrae reported in the meeting that Kosrae has made another purchase of capital stock worth $50,000.  This increases Kosrae’s total contributed capital in the bank to $700,000.  Yap, Palau, Guam, Pohnpei, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have already completed its required membership equity capital of $1 million.  Chuuk State has contributed $251,000.  Chairman Camacho thanked Governor Weilbacher for Kosrae’s continued commitment, especially in these difficult times.

The Board also approved the final terms and conditions of a loan facility between PIDB and FSM Development Bank and discussed the status of Marshall Islands membership in the bank, expressing hope that RMI will soon join the bank with its first membership installment payment.   The Board, before adjourning, also elected the following new Officers:  Governor Sebastian Anefal of Yap, Chairman, Governor John Ehsa of Pohnpei, Vice Chairman, and Vice President and Minister of Finance Kerai Mariur of Palau, Secretary.  Outgoing Chairman Camacho thanked members for their support, adding that it has truly been an honor to serve as Chairman of the Board.   
 
Two days earlier, the bank’s Board of Directors also held its regular meeting and to facilitate the Board of Governors meeting.  Among others, the Board reviewed its 2nd quarter operational performance, investment report, adequacy of allowance for loan loss reserve, and took action on commercial loan requests.  The seven-member board is chaired by the Bank’s President and CEO.
 
Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB) is a regional development finance institution, created by the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL), to assist and contribute to the economic and social development of its member nations and States, individually and collectively, and to promote economic cooperation among them.  Current members of the bank include the Republic of Palau, Island of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the FSM States of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.  It’s corporate office is located in Guam. To learn more about the bank and its products and services, visit www.pacificidb.com.

The Honorable Jackalyne Pfannenstiel
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Department of the Navy Energy, Installations & Environment
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington DC 20350-1000
 
Dear Assistant Secretary Pfannenstiel:
 
I appreciate your letter dated July 29, 2010 .  Your ongoing cooperation regarding the Guam Buildup is essential to the people of Guam. The US Armed Forces have been an integral part of our island community for decades and many of our sons have sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom.
 
Yet despite our island’s unwavering commitment to our nation, I remain greatly concerned over the possibility that the Department of Defense will exceed its existing footprint in preparation for the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Currently DOD controls slightly more than a third of our island’s total landmass.
 
It is with this knowledge that I strongly urge the DOD to meet its needs within the inventory already possessed by the department.  As a Colonel in the Guam Army National Guard, I understand the security needs of our nation, but those needs must be balanced with Guam’s abiding responsibility to preserve our culture, protect our environment, and foster a better life for Guam’s future generations
 
Nearly four years ago, federal officials promised that the Guam Buildup would require no new land acquisition, condemnation, or expansion. This approach was generally supported by our people, but recent years have indicated a change which is not compatible with the shared community we hope to build.
 
This is why I, along with Governor Camacho and the 30th Guam Legislature, memorialized our opposition to the DOD’s use of the Pagat site, the condemnation of Guam lands, and the dredging of Apra Harbor with Resolution 275-30 in February of this year.
 
The Pagat site is not simply a plot of land; it is a symbol of our people’s ancient culture, natural environment, and inalienable right to determine our future for ourselves.  It is my hope that together we can meet the needs of our nation in a manner that respects Guam’s island people and the heritage rooted in the land we share.