70 percent support big transfer of troops from Okinawa
SAIPAN, CNMI – The military expansion on Guam has a 70 percent support from the local community, according to a survey conducted
Poll show 70 percent support for a buildup according to a professional research company commissioned by the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
"These results show almost identical scores to the initial poll conducted in 2007, which reconfirms that a majority of Guam residents support a larger military presence on the island," Frank Campillo, chairman of the Chamber board, stated in a March 4 letter to Gov. Felix P. Camacho.
Campillo pledged the business organization’s commitment to support the military buildup, which he said "will ultimately enhance the economic well being of Guam while meeting the needs of the national security interest."
The governor’s office released the Chamber’s letter yesterday on the heels of an article, posted on the left-wing online newsletter "Marxist Thought Online," which states that Guam residents are "unhappy about the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa."The governor released the poll results purportedly to refute the article, which stated that Guam residents "are so reluctant to accept the U.S. Marines to be stationed on the island that the Guam governor would sign the ordinance passed by the Guam Legislature to hold a referendum over the planned reinforcement of U.S. forces in Guam."
"Community support for the Guam buildup is a critical component of our efforts to support the military relocation in the months and years ahead," Camacho said. "The overall success of this endeavor will be measured by the progress we make together during this crucial transition period."
According to the Chamber, the survey showed that 70 percent of poll respondents "support an increased military presence," 82 percent "feel that the increasing military presence will result in additional jobs and tax revenues," and nearly 60 percent believe that the "additional Marines on island will have a positive effect and ultimately improve the island’s quality of life."
The Chamber, however, didn’t say how many residents were polled.
The article on "Marxist Thought Online" quoted councilor Inoue Satoshi of the Japanese Communist Party based on his conversation with Speaker Judi Won Pat on March 8 and 9.
Satoshi was leading a JCP investigation team in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary discussion on the Guam Agreement recently signed by Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In an interview with Variety yesterday, Won Pat clarified her responses to Satoshi’s inquiries, saying that something must have gotten "lost in translation" during their conversation.
"When he asked me about the sentiments of the people of Guam, I told him about the arguments of both sides. I didn’t give him just one side or the other," Won Pat said.
"I shared that there were indigenous groups that were definitely against it, and there’s also the Chamber of Commerce which is very much in favor of it and apparently they put out a survey that indicated that a majority of people were in favor of the buildup."
Won Pat also shared with Satoshi that Vice Speaker Benjamin J. F. Cruz has a bill that calls for a referendum to give Guam residents the opportunity to voice their opinion on the buildup.
"Mr. Satoshi said that his party are not against the move; they are against Japan spending billions of dollars to move the Marines to Guam," said Won Pat.
Won Pat asked Satoshi exactly how many people were against Japan spending money for the military move, since the Guam Agreement was recently signed. The cost of the relocation project totals about $16 billion dollars, with Japan agreeing to pay about $6.1 billion.
Marianas Variety: www.mvariety.com
SAIPAN, CNMI – The military expansion on Guam has a 70 percent support from the local community, according to a survey conducted
Poll show 70 percent support for a buildup according to a professional research company commissioned by the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
"These results show almost identical scores to the initial poll conducted in 2007, which reconfirms that a majority of Guam residents support a larger military presence on the island," Frank Campillo, chairman of the Chamber board, stated in a March 4 letter to Gov. Felix P. Camacho.
Campillo pledged the business organization’s commitment to support the military buildup, which he said "will ultimately enhance the economic well being of Guam while meeting the needs of the national security interest."
The governor’s office released the Chamber’s letter yesterday on the heels of an article, posted on the left-wing online newsletter "Marxist Thought Online," which states that Guam residents are "unhappy about the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa."The governor released the poll results purportedly to refute the article, which stated that Guam residents "are so reluctant to accept the U.S. Marines to be stationed on the island that the Guam governor would sign the ordinance passed by the Guam Legislature to hold a referendum over the planned reinforcement of U.S. forces in Guam."
"Community support for the Guam buildup is a critical component of our efforts to support the military relocation in the months and years ahead," Camacho said. "The overall success of this endeavor will be measured by the progress we make together during this crucial transition period."
According to the Chamber, the survey showed that 70 percent of poll respondents "support an increased military presence," 82 percent "feel that the increasing military presence will result in additional jobs and tax revenues," and nearly 60 percent believe that the "additional Marines on island will have a positive effect and ultimately improve the island’s quality of life."
The Chamber, however, didn’t say how many residents were polled.
The article on "Marxist Thought Online" quoted councilor Inoue Satoshi of the Japanese Communist Party based on his conversation with Speaker Judi Won Pat on March 8 and 9.
Satoshi was leading a JCP investigation team in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary discussion on the Guam Agreement recently signed by Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In an interview with Variety yesterday, Won Pat clarified her responses to Satoshi’s inquiries, saying that something must have gotten "lost in translation" during their conversation.
"When he asked me about the sentiments of the people of Guam, I told him about the arguments of both sides. I didn’t give him just one side or the other," Won Pat said.
"I shared that there were indigenous groups that were definitely against it, and there’s also the Chamber of Commerce which is very much in favor of it and apparently they put out a survey that indicated that a majority of people were in favor of the buildup."
Won Pat also shared with Satoshi that Vice Speaker Benjamin J. F. Cruz has a bill that calls for a referendum to give Guam residents the opportunity to voice their opinion on the buildup.
"Mr. Satoshi said that his party are not against the move; they are against Japan spending billions of dollars to move the Marines to Guam," said Won Pat.
Won Pat asked Satoshi exactly how many people were against Japan spending money for the military move, since the Guam Agreement was recently signed. The cost of the relocation project totals about $16 billion dollars, with Japan agreeing to pay about $6.1 billion.
Marianas Variety: www.mvariety.com
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