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Governor seeks interagency assistance and requests full implementation of arianas Visa Waiver Program
 
February 24, 2010
 
(Washington, D.C.) Governor Felix P. Camacho today asked for interagency support for the full implementation of the Guahan-CNMI Visa Waiver Program during the Principal’s Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) meeting at the U.S. Department of the Interior.  The half day session touched on this policy issue and others relevant to Guahan, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and American Samoa.
 
Governor Camacho stressed that effort must be taken to balance policy that will strengthen tourism and help the economies of Guahan and the CNMI.  Consistent with Congressional intent of establishing a Regional Visa Waiver program, Governor Camacho asked White House, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Commerce officials for their support to extend the same parole authority to Guahan and full implementation of Public Law 110-229.  In November 2009, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted parole authority to tourists from China and Russia seeking to enter the CNMI in advance of full implementation of Public Law 110-229.
 
“While the U.S. Congress deliberated this legislation, some thought it would be prudent to establish different visa waiver systems for Guahan and the CNMI (a bifurcated program),” said Governor Camacho. “However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) objected and instead supported a regional approach that would apply equal treatment to Guam and the CNMI.”

Additionally, Governor Camacho asked for interagency assistance to designate and certify hospitals and healthcare facilities in Guahan and the U.S. Territories as Rural Critical Access Hospitals. He further asked for support in securing federal funding and technical assistance for the construction of a new Public Health and Social Services Building in Mangilao.
 
“I believe that the work of the IGIA has yielded significant policy changes that affect all U.S. Territories,” said Governor Camacho. “The advocacy of the Office of Insular Affairs and several other federal agencies has and will continue to make positive impacts on the people of Guahan.”