The 2nd Women\u2019s Summit kicked off yesterday with Guam Legislature Speaker Judith Won Pat citing the military buildup during one of the panel discussions on what the CNMI could do to protect its culture and future.<\/p>\n
Speaking as a panelist under the topic of \u201cEmpowering Women as Leaders,\u201d Won Pat focused on the construction of live-fire training facilities being proposed for Tinian and Pagan, compared them to two other areas that were proposed for Guam, and how the community voiced their concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am aware that the draft Environmental Impact Statement on the military\u2019s plan for training on Tinian and Pagan will be released this Friday\u2014April 3\u2014 and Guam has gone through two very major military impact statements since 2010 concerning the military buildup and learned many lessons about leadership in the process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur community has been divided about the buildup. The popular perception has been that the buildup would result in economic growth and jobs, both of which our island needs. However, it will also result in unnatural population growth [that] will strain our infrastructure and increase the demand on public services,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Concerns raised about the buildup focused on its potential for negative impact on the environment and the culture of Guam. The most contentious issue, she said, is the need to find a place where the U.S Marines can conduct live-fire training among Guam\u2019s cultural and historical sites.<\/p>\n
Won Pat said she studied the situation from all angles and perspectives, read all necessary documents, did additional research, looked at similar situations in other places, and studied the CNMI\u2019s history for answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to understand as much as what was being planned and how it would impact us. I knew that the plan to move the Marines to Guam was intended to lessen the presence of Marines in Okinawa, so I went to Okinawa to see it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Won Pat, Okinawa\u2019s community had been protesting the Marine\u2019s presence on their island since 1995, when three Marines kidnapped a 12-year-old girl and raped her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to ask myself if that is what I wanted for my community. I had to listen\u2026I met with the women and they had valid concerns about the impact on children and the amount of money it would cost our government\u2026I formed a group and became vocal about the need to put Guam first\u2026I was heavily criticized and deemed anti-military, but as a women I would not back down,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said the youth empowered her, enabling her to spread the word into Guam\u2019s community and its leaders. Some 10,000 comments were made when the draft EIS came out, which she says the Navy said was unheard of.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe share the same culture. I invite you to the path we\u2019ve taken and ask yourself: Is this what you want for Tinian and Pagan? We have to learn from each other because no matter what political lines divide us, we are all one family. \u2026My final point is, everything I do as a leader I do from a place of love for my family, island, ancestors, and future generations. \u2026CNMI, you have more political power than we do in Guam because you are a Commonwealth. If you don\u2019t want Pagan to be bombed, you can say no\u2026make it happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In related news, Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), who chairs the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs, said that military officials will be sitting with the committee this Thursday to discuss the military\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n
Demapan said the military has been holding many stakeholder meetings but never with the Legislature.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what Won Pat said, if they want to be a part of the community, they have to be a partner of the community and that opens that dialogue so that they can become a good and responsible partner and benefit our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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