Islands Business - Pacific Update

Founding father of Commonwealth dies at 71; End of the road for Field?; Rising problems of small arms

Founding father of Commonwealth dies at 71

The heavy rain did not deter hundreds of government officials, relatives and community members from taking part in the October 13 state funeral for Lorenzo I Deleon Guerrero, the third governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

So long, Sir... farewelling the late Deleon Guerrero.

His coffin was wrapped in the flag of the CNMI, which he had served for decades mostly as a lawmaker and governor.

“This rain is a blessing. It brings good luck,” one of the mourners told ISLANDS BUSINESS, referring to the heavy rain that started half-way through the state funeral mass at the Mount Carmel Cathedral to the interment services at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Chalan Kanoa, Saipan.

Guerrero—first former governor to have passed away since the Northern Marianas became a self-governing commonwealth of the United States in 1978—died on October 6 at the age of 71 after six years battling with health problems.

A 21-gun salute was fired in honour of the late governor who was buried right next to the grave of his daughter Dolores who died in 2003.

Guerrero is survived by his wife Matilde Villagomez Deleon Guerrero and their children Joaquin, Margaret, Frances, Gloria, Emiliana, Lorenza, Lorenzo Jr., Magdalena and Raymond.

Chalan Kanoa Bishop, Tomas Camacho, during the state funeral mass, thanked Guerrero for his public service, from being the president of the Constitutional Convention of 1976 to becoming the first president of the CNMI Senate in 1978-1980 and for being the governor from 1990 to 1994.

“We are also thankful to former Governor Guerrero for being a faithful parishioner and most of all, for being a faithful friend. And with God’s grace, we too can become beacons (like Deleon Guerrero),” said the bishop.

Earlier in the day, the CNMI Senate and House of Representatives held a joint session to adopt a resolution recognising Guerrero’s political career and achievements.

The resolution described Guerrero as the one of the islands’ great leaders who had earned his place in history as a “founding father of the commonwealth.”
“(Deleon Guerrero) was a man of unquestionable integrity, honesty, and high morals who treated all persons from governors to labourers with politeness and respect and who himself was well respected by all who served in government.

“He truly exemplified public service of the highest and most honourable level,” stated a portion of the resolution.

Governor Benigno R. Fitial, who was in the United States for medical reasons, in a statement described Guerrero as “a very strong champion of local self-government and the rights and the interests of the people of the Northern Marianas.”

One of the late governor’s daughters told reporters that her parents were looking forward to celebrating their golden anniversary on August 18, 2007, but her father didn’t live long enough to see that day. “But he will always be in our hearts and memories,” she said.—Criselda B Hernandez

End of the road for Field?

New Zealand’s first ever Pacific Islands MP and Labour minister Taito Philip Field’s political career may well be at its fag end.

Field is currently under suspension pending police investigations into allegedly promising to help a Thai overstayer obtain a New Zealand work permit—that often leads to permanent residency—in exchange for tiling work at properties owned by him including his Samoa home (pictured).

Earlier, an investigation that cost the taxpayer half-a-million dollars cleared Field of conflict of interest charges.

But the case was handed over to the police after both a relentless investigation by the media and the opposition.

National Party’s persistence in Parliament. There was suspicion that the Queen’s Counsel had been deliberately misled during the course of his investigations.

Last month, the Thai man who is still in Samoa signed an affidavit stating facts that brought some of the discrepancies to light.

He also indicated that Field was tutoring him on what he should and should not say during the police investigation. In a move that is a first for New Zealand, police entered Parliament to raid his offices seizing computers, papers and documents.

His home and constituency offices in Auckland were also raided. Field was away in Vanuatu and is reported to have put on a brave face when he heard of the raids.

The development came at a particularly uncomfortable time for Labour as it prepared for its annual conference.

Nationals are sure to keep up the heat in the coming weeks until Labour is forced to sacrifice him—a thing which looks increasingly inevitable with each passing week.

Rising problems of small arms

The Australian Labour Party has urged a concerted effort to tackle the rising problem of small arms in the Pacific nations, saying their presence significantly contributed to regional instability. Spokesperson Bob Sercombe who launched a discussion paper titled In the Line of Fire—Addressing Illegal Arms in the Pacific, said there were an estimated 120,000 illegal small arms and light weapons in Pacific islands nations. Sercombe said such weapons facilitated the 2000 coup in Fiji and contributed to fighting in Bougainville and the Solomons and ongoing unrest in the PNG highlands. “Small arms and light weapons significantly exacerbate the impact of political conflict, tribal warfare, crime and domestic violence, pushing young, under-resourced states to the limit,” he said.

“Regional authorities fear that increasing demand for guns could precipitate major arms trafficking in the region, pointing to the urgent need to develop further weapons reduction initiatives.”

Highlighting the problem in PNG, he said one study showed that only a quarter of the 7664 assault weapons delivered to the PNG defence force since 1971 remained accounted for.

Vanuatu’s secret of happiness

An avid Pacific watcher has a theory about why Vanuatu has had the western world’s attention showered upon it in such profusion lately. A few months ago, it won the “World’s Happiest Place on Earth” sobriquet. It has also received a grant under the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals programme for a project. But the country is yet to even come up with a project idea. Then again, the European Union-funded “PROFIT in the Pacific” tourism conference is being held in Port Vila later this month. Now, the secret, according to this analyst: Vanuatu was the only Pacific island country that became a part of the “Coalition of the Willing” after September 11, 2001, as western nations launched their onslaught on the Middle East in a bid to ferret out the 9/11 culprits. Now it’s rewards time for Vanuatu.

Fiji good for UN Security Council: Hill

Fiji would be an excellent candidate to join the United Nations Security Council, according to the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Christopher Hill.

He made the comment as he commended the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for its peacekeeping efforts in war-torn countries throughout the globe.

The UN Security Council is made up of five permanent members China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ten non-permanent members also make up the Council. Of these 10 non-permanent members, the term of five members is due to expire this year.

Hill said Fiji had developed an international reputation for providing peacekeeping troops in very tough situations. But he said he was unaware of what country the United States would support.

Our Airlines: a sub-regional service?

Discussions have started on making the region’s newest airline, Our Airlines, a sub-regional air service, especially for countries in Micronesia and the north Pacific.

Nauru’s transport minister, Dr Kieren Keke, is pursuing this initiative with several Pacific Islands Countries. Most of these discussions were held at the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Nadi and during bilateral talks.

“We have had a positive feedback, which now involves the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. A number of countries are keen on the concept and we will be working together to realise this proposal of a sub regional airline.

Teo criticises RIF report

At least one of the heads of the 10 regional organisations has expressed his concerns over the proposed regional institutional framework (RIF), now endorsed by Pacific Leaders. Outgoing director of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Feleti Teo said recommendations made in the RIF report were “disastrous and undermine the milestones achieved by FFA over the last 27 years”. Teo, who spent six years as head of the Honiara based regional organisation, said to “simply divide up FFA into technical and policy/political functions will not work”.

According to the RIF report, FFA’s political and policy work will merge with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat while the technical aspects of its oceanic fisheries management will become part of the Pacific Community, a new organisation created for all regional technical institutions.

“What we are trying to promote to our member countries is an integrated approach to fisheries management and fisheries development, or a holistic approach. In such an approach, you cannot dissect issues into political and technical compartments, they have to be integrated to make it successful.”

Filipinos undocumented in Palau

At least 80 percent of overseas Filipinos workers in Palau are undocumented, according the Philippine Overseas Labour Office in Saipan. Labour representative Joan Lavilla told Saipan Tribune that Philippines Ambassador in Palau Ramoncito Marino informed them that Filipino workers were directly hired by Palu employers without undergoing government recommended procedures.