CURRENT ISSUES
APIL handles regional issues through four committees and several subcommittees.
The committees work on issues identified by APIL members and then prepare resolutions that are voted on
at meetings.
For complete texts of resolutions contact Central Secretariat's office by e-mail at
apil@guam.net.
APIL 29th GA Adopted Resolutions
1. APIL Reso. No. 29-GA-01, CD1 
APIL 29-GA-01, CD1 Resolution Response
"Recognizing the Republic of China as a proactive development partner in the Pacific region and reiterating support for the ROC's meaningful participation in international organizations and activities, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)."
2. APIL Reso. No. 29-GA-02, CD1
"Expressing sincere appreciation to the people and the Kiribati Parliament for hosting the 29th General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures."
3. APIL Reso. No. 29-GA-04
"Commending the Republic of Kiribati for their initiatives in addressing these problems; and directing the regional APIL task force on climate change to prioritize its attention on the efforts of the Pacific Island atoll countries while still giving emphasis to the needs of all island jurisdictions who are being threatened by rising sea levels."
4. APIL Reso. No. 29-GA-05
"Relative to supporting the United Nations resolution, 'Climate change and its possible security implications', and establishing a regional APIL task-force to address the effects of climate change."
5. APIL Reso. No. 29-GA-06, CD1
"Establishing a sister organization partnership between the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures and the Digital Society Foundation."
NEWS RELEASE
Association of Pacific Island Legislators meets in Pohnpei
Written by Bill Jaynes
Monday, 29 June 2009
Peilapalap, Pohnpei – The 28th General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislators met at the Pohnpei Legislative Session Hall. The meetings which attracted members from nine Pacific Island nations and the four State of the Federated States of Micronesia opened on June 9, 2009. The primary topic of the 28th General Assembly APIL centered on the US military build up in Guam and its effect on the Pacific Islands. The legislators from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the FSM State of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap, the Island of Guam, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, and the State of Hawaii heard presentations from a diverse group of speakers. The speakers delivered messages regarding the military buildup in Guam in terms of educational preparedness, infrastructure needs,
regional opportunities, and economic outlooks expected as a result of the buildup. Legislators also heard presentations on the efforts of Reach Out Pacific and their charitable efforts on behalf of the Pacific Islands. They also discussed grant writing and web technology that could benefit the islands. Before the 28th General Assembly adjourned members passed 14 resolutions. Not all of the resolutions were provided to the Kaselehlie Press. APIL staff member Walden Weilbacher said that those resolutions were congratulatory in nature but didn’t elaborate further: 28-GA-01 - “Urging the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Regional Governments to request that the spouses, children, and immediate relatives of COFA Migrants be allowed to enter, engage in occupations, and establish residence as non-immigrants in the United States and its territories.”
28-GA-02, CD1 - “To request that President Barack Obama, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, and the United States Attorney General ensure that the regulations implementing the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 include China and Russia in the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program.” 28-GA-03 - “Expressing the deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) to the family and friends of the late Sergeant Jasper Obakrairur for his untimely passing.
28-GA-05, CD1 - “Relative to supporting the establishment of the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future, an administrative, research and development center for the Western Micronesian Chief Executives’ Summit and the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit and further requesting for greater participation in the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future by allowing for direct representation from its members and authorizing the involvement of the APIL President or designee in the ongoing strategic development plan process for the Center.” 28-GA-06 - “Expressing the support of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures for the efforts of the Legislature of the Island of Guam to establish aboriginal indigenous fishing rights within the Island of Guam, and to request that the President of the United States include Guam with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands relative to providing that subsistence and traditional aboriginal
indigenous fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity consstent with other applicable laws therein.”
28-GA-08 - “Expressing the strong support of the members of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures for the efforts by Guam to enter into intergovernmental agreements in support of the military build-up.” 28-GA-09 - “Requesting the leadership of the Federated States of Micronesia to support efforts by the College of Micronesia-FSM to supply trained personnel for the military build-up on Guam.” 28-GA-10 - “Respectfully requesting the United States Department of Defense and the Governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the private sectors, educational institutions, trade organizations and non-profit associations involved in preparing for the military build-up, to make an extra special effort to extend the benefits of the build-up to the citizens of the Republic of Nauru and the Republic of Kiribati.” 28-GA-11 - “Requesting the leadership of Micronesia to build air links between
United States-influenced Micronesia and Commonwealth-influenced Micronesia.
28-GA-13 - “Respectfully requesting the United States Department of Defense to commence a dialogue with the APIL member jurisdiction governments to explore appropriate means by which to share with the Pacific Island governments vital information about the surrounding seas, gained through the state of the art technology being emplaced on Guam that can readily and accurately detect and monitor the activities of vessels operating in the Pacific which may be violating national laws and international agreements.” 28-GA-14 - “Expressing the commendation and appreciation of the 28th Association of the Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) General Assembly to all the Presenters for the informative and thorough presentation to the Assembly.” Each of the resolutions has sufficient information accompanying them to warrant full stories of their own. Interested readers can find the full text of the resolutions at www.apilpacific.com.
APIL’s President, Senator Kalani English of Hawaii was reelected for another term with APIL. He said that he has seen the strength of APIL grow since he became a member and that he wants to continue to move the organization forward. He said that he hopes to see APIL develop a more international membership. He hoped to one day see French Polynesia join the group as well as other South Pacific Island nations. APIL met through Thursday, June 11 and sponsored a fishing derby on June 12 with over $2000 in cash prizes for the top fisherman. All of the fish caught on that day were donated to the Pohnpei State Hospital. The next meeting of the Association of Pacific Island Legislators will be held in Honolulu in December of this year.
Military buildup opportunities a mixed bag for the Pacific islands region
Written by Bill Jaynes
Saturday, 11 July 2009
When the Association of Pacific Island Legislators met in Pohnpei in June their main topic of discussion was the US military buildup in Guam and how it will affect the Pacific region. The gathered legislators heard presentations from many speakers on various aspects of the buildup.
Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Chief of Staff for Guam’s Lt. Governor’s office said that Pacific Island governments and business people should be proactive in seeking opportunities for themselves both before and after the military buildup. She said that businesses in Guam in order to be competitive might look to outsource some services to Pacific Islands businesses. With that in mind, she said, business minded people in the Pacific islands ought seriously to consider joint ventures with Guam businesses. She recalled a conversation with a business person from a Fortune 500 company who boasted that his company would likely provide aggregate for the buildup that would be shipped from the US state of Texas because Guam’s aggregate is not the type that is needed for the construction. She said that rather than importing aggregate from so far away, Pacific islands and particularly Pohnpei ought to look into whether or not aggregate that could be provided from the islands would be suitable for construction requirementsin Guam. She said that land use issues surrounding the buildup have in no way been fully resolved and that it may well be that the US will need to seek additional space on other Pacific islands. Pacific Island legislators asked her dozens of pointed questions most of them centering on how they can get the information needed to make good moves for their home islands related to the buildup. She said that getting information is often quite difficult and that even the military leaders based in Guam don’t have all of the answers. The majority of decisions regarding the buildup are being made at the Pentagon. Guerrero said that she has been able to find out most of what she needs to know by keeping her ears open and by utilizing the Internet.
She encouraged the members of APIL to be creative in their thinking regarding opportunities surrounding the military buildup in Guam. Joseph P. Bradley, Senior Vice President of the Bank of Guam and the Bank’s chief economist gave a presentation entitled Shelter from the Global Economic Storm. With wry wit and a dry sense of humor Bradley gave a detailed presentation on the world financial events and poor decisions that led to the meltdown of financial markets. He said that he disagreed with the economists who are saying that the world economy is already well on its way to recovery. His view is that the world economy will take years to recover from the events that on the surface semed to have developed over night but had actually been building for the last 50 years of expansionary US fiscal policy and shortsighted monetary policies. Bradley said that at least for the next few years the Pacific region will have a bit of a shelter from the global economic storm due to the US military buildup in Guam. The economic possibilities from the buildup will not be reliant on internal building of economic resources in the area but will come from the billions of dollars that the US and Japan will need to spend in order to accomplish the relocation of the Okinawa military base.
- 8,000 U.S. Marines are to relocate from Okinawa to Guam by 2014
- They will bring with them an estimated 9,000 dependents
- Japan will provide more than $6 billion in support for the move, primarily in housing construction
- The U.S. will spend nearly $10 billion in the process, but that includes transportation/relocation
- Approximately $5 billion will be spent by the U.S. on construction, although this may increase to $9 billion
- Twenty to thirty thousand construction workers and support staff will be needed for the project
Bradley said that approximately $787 million will appropriated for military construction in Guam in fiscal year 2010.
The economic impact of the military buildup is already happening in Guam. Bradley said that in 2007, real estate speculators drove up Guam market prices based on the news of the impending military move. Speculators did not take into account the timing of the move nor the fact that details of the move might change. Many of the details of the move have changed substantially since the move was first announced. Bradley said that real estate prices have moderated for now in Guam but that he expects them to begin to rise again during the next fiscal year. Minor preliminary construction has already begun. Already the economic impact of the buildup includes a large number of consultants traveling to Guam all of whom must spend money to live when they visit the island. An environmental impact statement is being prepared and facilities engineering work has already begun. Some outside contractors have already established offices in Guam in anticipation of the possibility of lucrative construction contracts. Local firms are encouraged to bid on federal contracts, and training sessions on how to succeed at that have been frequent, Bradley said. He said that besides the specific military needs, the government of Guam estimates that it will need $2.6 billion for infrastructure improvements related to the buildup for roadways, power transmission, water production and distribution, wastewater treatment, port facilities, and airport facilities. He said that in addition, hospital and medical clinic capacity will need to be expanded. During the construction phase of the buildup more schools will be needed. Law enforcement personnel and capabilities will need to be expanded and improved.
To ensure that all taxes due to the government are being collected there will need to be expanded governmental abilities for revenue collection and enforcement. Bradley said that even bigger economic developments in Guam should begin by later this year. He said that the Bank of Guam has already received a financing proposal for the construction of 20,000 housing units. He said that more housing units will be needed to house construction workers, and ancillary staff related to the buildup. “Hopefully,” he said “the design will meet affordable housing needs post-construction.”
Bradley said that US citizens will have first priority for construction jobs in Guam including citizens of Guam, CNMI, Hawaii, American Samoa, and the mainland of the United States where unemployment in the field of construction exceeds 19%. Citizens of friendly nations will have the next crack at jobs including workers from Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Pacific Islands. Bradley said that due to reasons of national security the workers would not be from China or from Russia.
He said that “huge amounts of money” will be flowing through Guam during the buildup and that much of it will be flowing through the hands of transient construction workers. He said that businesses of all types should see expansion and he expects to see many more businesses open up. There will be a huge demand for businesses that provide warehousing and transportation of goods, such as trucking businesses. There will be room for new and expanded businesses in almost every category: wholesale, manufacturing and fabrication, transportation, personal services, professional services, restaurants and bars, entertainment, and many more.
Bradley warned that the boom will not last forever and equated it to the days when foreign investors began to build hotels in Guam. The number of construction workers peaked at approximately 12,500 in 1991 at the height of the boom and gradually declined to a low of 2500 construction workers in 2001. By 2007 there were just over 6000 construction workers in Guam. Bradley anticipates that by 2013 there will be over 26,000 workers in the construction field alone before the boom days begin to slack off.
When the construction is over, he said, most of those jobs will disappear though a few will remain because of the population increase. The Marines have said that they will only need about 500 additional civilian workers but that most of those would be military spouses and local residents. He said that when the construction is over the surge in incomes and property values will be quickly thrown into reverse. Remittances will fall off, government revenues will drop, unemployment and its associated problems will rise, and skilled workers will relocate for better job opportunities. He further warned the gathered Pacific Islands legislators that the workers who relocate to Guam will not be available to work on their home islands. Those workers are likely to be the best and the brightest and it is possible that theymay never return to their home islands. Woker remittances to their home islands will stop when the buildup projects are completed and those workers who do return will have changed and will have newexpectations including an increased expectation for their own standard of living. Guam, he said, would change along with the entire Pacific region as a result of the buildup.
On a positive note Bradley said that the buildup would generate huge amounts of income for the Pacific islands, not just for Guam.
He said that once the buildup is complete there will be a larger transient population interested in travel and in exploring the islands. Tourism opportunities will, by his estimation, persist well beyond the actual buildup period. Depending on how one looked at the situation, he said, the Pacific region would be more or less secure because of the presence of the US military.
SENATOR J. KALANI ENGLISH TO RECEIVE "STARS OF OCEANIA" AWARD
Award from Pacific Business center program recognizes Pacific leaders.
HONOLULU – Senator J. Kalani English (District 6 - Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe) will receive a Pacific Business Center "Stars of Oceania" award at the 2009 Stars of Oceania Luncheon & Pasifika Energy Summit on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 12:00 noon. The award recognizes Senator English for his personal interest, advocacy and example of statesmanship in cultivating, strengthening and promoting greater cooperation and collaboration between the Hawai'i State Legislature and the Territories, Freely Associated States, and Commonwealths of the Pacific.
"Senator English is a recognized and compelling example of what the Stars of Oceania award symbolizes," said Dr. Faiautusi Avegalio, Director of the Pacific Business Center Program at the Shidler College of Business Administration, University of Hawai‘i Manoa. "He symbolizes the up and coming generation of leaders possessing the cultural sense of balance, harmony, and reciprocal benefit that encapsulates our indigenous wisdom. Coupled with modern knowledge and education, Senator English is the kind of leader who is able to take the best of both worlds and create a third exciting option for our future."
"This is a tremendous honor," Senator English said. "To me it is common sense that we should be finding ways to combine today’s technologies and knowledge with the vital legacy of culture and inclusiveness that our ancestors left us. I am very grateful that others share these views, and that we can find a way to build on a shared commitment to not only preserving, but also making use our legacy."
This year, the Stars of Oceania Luncheon is coupled with the Pasifika Energy Summit as a single event to provide a forum connecting traditional wisdom with modern knowledge. It is the strength of both traditional wisdom and modern knowledge that may help mankind preserve the only source of wealth that makes a difference: Mother Earth.
Committees and Sub-committees
I. Committee on Education
Chair: Representative Lyla Berg, Ph.D. (State of Hawaii)
II. Committee on Economic Development
Chairman: Vice Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (CNMI)
III. Committee on Governmental & Cultural Affairs
Chairman: Representative Vaitoa Hans Langkilde (American Samoa)
IV. Committee on Health & Environment
Chairman: Sen. Fernando Scaliem (FSM State of Pohnpei)
V. Committee on Trade and Commerce
Acting-Chairman: Delegate Rebluud Kesolei (Republic of Palau)
APIL 50th Board of Directors Meeting
December 2-4, 2009
Honolulu, Hawaii
1. Resolution No. 50-BOD- 01 [DOC]
"Expressing the utmost sympathy and extending the sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late
Honorable Liufau Te'o Tanielu Sonoma Unutoa for his untimely passing."
2. Resolution No. 50-BOD-02, CD1 [PDF | DOC]
"The Association of Pacific Island Legislatures extends its full support of the efforts of American Samoa and its delegate
to the United States Congress, the Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, in advancing the American Samoa Protection of Industry,
Resources and Employment proposal now before the Congress and further advocates for the passage of the general tenets of
this important legislation as it will provide great stability to the fragile economic state of American Samoa."
3. Resolution No. 50-BOD-03 [PDF | DOC]
"Relative to expressing gratitude and appreciation to the Hawaii State Legislature for the use of its facilities
during the 50th Board of Directors Meeting of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures."
4. Resolution No. 50-BOD-04, CD1 [PDF | DOC]
"Relative to strongly urging the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Congress to provide additional federal aid to American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas
Islands, and the State of Hawaii for the provision of essential services to citizens from the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations; to form a task force of members from DOI and each of the jurisdictions affected
by COFA citizens; to develop a uniform methodology and to properly fund an information system to calculate and address full reimbursements for provision of services as required by the Compact agreements and to deem
migrants eligible to receive federally funded financial and medical assistance.”
PIDB Presentation: Mr. Aren Palik, President & CEO
REPAC Honolulu APIL - Dec. 09
APIL Update - December 2009 - Hawaii
APIL 28th GA Adopted Resolutions
1. Resolution No. 28-GA-01, CD1
a. "Urging the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Regional Governments to request that the spouses, children, and immediate relatives of COFA Migrants be allowed to enter, engage in occupations, and establish residence as non-immigrants in the United States and its territories."
2. Resolution No. 28-GA-02, CD1
a. "To request that President Barack Obama, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, and the United States Attorney General ensure that the regulations implementing the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 include China and Russia in the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program."
3. Resolution No. 28-GA-04
a. "Extending sincere appreciation to the generous sponsors and wholeheartedly thanking them for their continuous support of the programs and activities of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures."
4. Resolution No. 28-GA-05, CD1
a. "Relative to supporting the establishment of the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future, an administrative, research and development center for the Western Micronesian Chief Executives’ Summit and the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit and further requesting for greater participation in the Micronesian Center for a Sustainable Future by allowing for direct representation from its members and authorizing the involvement of the APIL President or designee in the ongoing strategic development plan process for the Center."
5. Resolution No. 28-GA-06
a. "Expressing the support of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures for the efforts of the Legislature of the Island of Guam to establish aboriginal indigenous fishing rights within the Island of Guam, and to request that the President of the United States include Guam with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands relative to providing that subsistence and traditional aboriginal indigenous fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity consistent with other applicable laws therein."
6. Resolution No. 28-GA-07
a. "Expressing the sincerest appreciation of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures to Bank of Guam; Continental Airlines; Matson Navigation Company; Pacific Islands Development Bank; FSM Telecommunications Corporation; Bank of the FSM; Micronesian Brokers Inc.; Blue Nile Wholesaler/Retailer and Hideout Equipment Rentals; Oceanview Plaza-West Wing; Pohnpei Do It Best and Imelda’s Shoes; and Genesis Hospital and Pharmacy for supporting the 28th General Assembly."
7. Resolution No. 28-GA-08
a. "Expressing the strong support of the members of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures for the efforts by Guam to enter into intergovernmental agreements in support of the military build-up."
8. Resolution No. 28-GA-09
a. "Requesting the leadership of the Federated States of Micronesia to support efforts by the College of Micronesia-FSM to supply trained personnel for the military build-up on Guam."
9. Resolution No. 28-GA-10
a. "Respectfully requesting the United States Department of Defense and the Governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the private sectors, educational institutions, trade organizations and non-profit associations involved in preparing for the military build-up, to make an extra special effort to extend the benefits of the build-up to the citizens of the Republic of Nauru and the Republic of Kiribati."
10. Resolution No. 28-GA-11
a. "Requesting the leadership of Micronesia to build air links between United States-influenced Micronesia and Commonwealth-influenced Micronesia."
11. Resolution No. 28-GA-12
a. "Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the Pohnpei Legislature for the use of its facilities during the 28th General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures."
12. Resolution No. 28-GA-13
a. "Respectfully requesting the United States Department of Defense to commence a dialogue with the APIL member jurisdiction governments to explore appropriate means by which to share with the Pacific Island governments vital information about the surrounding seas, gained through the state of the art technology being emplaced on Guam that can readily and accurately detect and monitor the activities of vessels operating in the Pacific which may be violating national laws and international agreements."
13. Resolution No. 28-GA-14
a. "Expressing the commendation and appreciation of the 28th Association of the Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) General Assembly to all the Presenters for the informative and thorough presentation to the Assembly."
APIL 28th GA Conference Presentations
APIL GCC Presentation
APIL - BOG Joe Bradley
32nd Meeting 
