Gov. Ralph DLG Torres dubbed the 23rd Micronesia Island Forum as \u201cvery successful\u201d during the final day of the forum last Friday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.<\/p>\n
The forum concluded with all leaders signing off on five resolutions regarding transportation, health care, labor, and climate change, including a resolution on tackling invasive species who threaten the region as whole.<\/p>\n
Torres attributes the forum\u2019s success on those five resolutions.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026It\u2019s putting out a message that we are unified; we may not have the same landmass as the United States or other countries, but if you look at our water rights and our waters together, then we have a greater percentage that we should take care of and [address] these issues as a whole, collectively,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n
The three-day forum went on starting from April 25 until April 27, 2018, as they discussed key issues such as the healthcare situation in Micronesia, the threats of climate change, the worries on invasive species, the problems on labor scarcity, and more.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026We are here to acknowledge that [there are issues] and we are here to take care [of it],\u201d he said, referring to a resolution on invasive species on Guam that have already affected Rota as well. <\/p>\n
\u201c…Our main goal here is to build that relationship\u2014that it is okay to address our concerns, that it is okay to sit down, and that we should sit down and address our concerns. As our economy grows, we should be able to go out and expand, and assist our neighboring islands\u2014our brothers and sisters\u2014so that they too can grow, as we grow ourselves,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to Guam Gov. Eddie B. Calvo, the forum had \u201cdifferent kinds of influences,\u201d which included presidents and island nation leaders who have represented in world bodies such as the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked together to try and see what we can do to resolve some issues and then also looking forward to other opportunities,\u201d he said in an interview after the forum.<\/p>\n
Calvo said in a previous interview that the 23rd forum is possibly his last as his second term as Guam governor ends this year. Despite that, he said he is looking forward to attending the future MIFs as a citizen of Guam.<\/p>\n
As the 23rd MIF ended, the members voted Yap to be their host for the 24th MIF.<\/p>\n
The MIF was attended by Palau President Tommy M. Remengesau, Federated States of Micronesia President Peter M. Christian, Republic of Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, Chuuk Gov. Johnson Elimo, Pohnpei Gov. Marcelo K. Peterson, Kosrae Lt. Gov. Carson K. Sigrah, Yap Lt. Gov. James Yangetmai, Guam Gov. Eddie B. Calvo, and CNMI Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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