Island leaders pledged to turn plans into action as they discussed security, the consequences of climate change and economic development during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau this week.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said that Guam faces the same problems as the 18 members of the forum, but as an associate member, the island doesn’t get to participate in solving those problems.
“It’s very important that Guam be a very full member of this Pacific Islands Forum because then we can truly engage in this very thought-provoking, very significant initiatives that are being set forward, agreements that are being set forward in many issues that face all of our islands,” she said.
Leon Guerrero said the issues are not just concerns being discussed on a global level, like climate change, but problems confronting families and villages throughout the islands.
They include food security, the cost of living, domestic violence, gender equality, fish stocks and deep-sea mining.
She said forum members are studying regulations for artificial intelligence and trying to determine how to protect children from getting misled by deepfakes. They are also dealing with crime and meth in their communities.
“Issues like air connectivity is very important. Issues of cybersecurity is very important. Issues about supply chains and seaports,” she said.
Full membership in the forum is generally limited to independent, sovereign nations. As a U.S. territory, Guam is represented in the Pacific, and throughout the rest of the world, by the United States government.
There are two French territories - New Caledonia and French Polynesia – that were allowed to become full members in 2016. Like Guam, they began as observers and moved up to associate members. But unlike Guam, those territories were deemed to be moving toward self-rule.
Leon Guerrero said members of Pacific Islands Forum have access to the Council of Regional Organizations of the Pacific, which provides advice and support.
“They have all these financial opportunities that are just very willing to contribute to help the islands. That's very important for us. I think if it's one thing for me at least, it's more how can we become more autonomous as an island, so we can be have better control of our destiny.”
She said the Pacific Islands Forum carries influence on the world stage and at the United Nations.
“The work that we have done to get a place at the table has been very progressive and has been very aggressive, and I think our leaders in the Pacific are starting to realize that.”
Guam is one of four territories holding associate member status. The others, which are in the South Pacific, are American Samoa, the New Zealand territory of Tokelau and the French territory of Wallis and Futuna.
All but Wallis and Futuna are on the United Nations’ list of 17 non-self-governing territories.
