By Gemma Q. Casas - Variety News Staff
GUAM Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz says the planned military buildup in the Marianas region should be a national commitment because the islands don’t have the resources and capabilities to ensure its success.
Cruz, the keynote speaker in the two-day CNMI Economic Restoration Summit, is also the chairman of the civilian military task force of Guam.
The buildup project involves relocating more than 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan to Guam starting 2012.
Photo: Guam Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz, left and his chief-of-staff, Carlota Leon Guerrero, a former senator and KMCV news director, are on island to attend the two-day CNMI Economic Restoration Summit at the Fiesta Resort & Spa.
The construction of facilities that will house them and their families, among other infrastructure projects, are scheduled to begin next year.
Cruz said Guam needs the assistance of other federal agencies to ensure that the construction projects go smoothly as scheduled.
“We’re appealing to the federal government outside of the Department of Defense. The other federal agencies need to be involved to ensure that this buildup happens in the time frame that they wanted to,” he said in an interview.
“Our job is to continue to lobby for additional resources and funding to ensure the success of this project in the long run,” he added.
Guam will host the relocating Marines while the Northern Marianas will provide the venue for their training and drills in land, sea and in the air.
Japan and the U.S. agreed to realign their forces in 2005.
Cruz said $2 to 4 billion will be used for the buildup project and the Marianas region must use this opportunity for their economic benefits.
“With a projected $2 to 4 billion dollars per year in defense related contracts associated with the buildup, companies throughout the region must participate in these good times. If we do not meet our challenges together, we will be divided by them,” he said.
The visiting Guam official said plans to form a regional economic task force in connection with the buildup are still a work in progress.
The idea will be discussed at the next meeting of the Council of Micronesian Chief Executives.
“We look forward to working with our brothers and sisters in the CNMI and throughout Micronesia so that we may see more of our people gainfully employed and ultimately, see an improvement in the quality of life for all of our citizens,” Cruz said
GUAM Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz says the planned military buildup in the Marianas region should be a national commitment because the islands don’t have the resources and capabilities to ensure its success.
Cruz, the keynote speaker in the two-day CNMI Economic Restoration Summit, is also the chairman of the civilian military task force of Guam.
The buildup project involves relocating more than 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan to Guam starting 2012.
Photo: Guam Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz, left and his chief-of-staff, Carlota Leon Guerrero, a former senator and KMCV news director, are on island to attend the two-day CNMI Economic Restoration Summit at the Fiesta Resort & Spa.The construction of facilities that will house them and their families, among other infrastructure projects, are scheduled to begin next year.
Cruz said Guam needs the assistance of other federal agencies to ensure that the construction projects go smoothly as scheduled.
“We’re appealing to the federal government outside of the Department of Defense. The other federal agencies need to be involved to ensure that this buildup happens in the time frame that they wanted to,” he said in an interview.
“Our job is to continue to lobby for additional resources and funding to ensure the success of this project in the long run,” he added.
Guam will host the relocating Marines while the Northern Marianas will provide the venue for their training and drills in land, sea and in the air.
Japan and the U.S. agreed to realign their forces in 2005.
Cruz said $2 to 4 billion will be used for the buildup project and the Marianas region must use this opportunity for their economic benefits.
“With a projected $2 to 4 billion dollars per year in defense related contracts associated with the buildup, companies throughout the region must participate in these good times. If we do not meet our challenges together, we will be divided by them,” he said.
The visiting Guam official said plans to form a regional economic task force in connection with the buildup are still a work in progress.
The idea will be discussed at the next meeting of the Council of Micronesian Chief Executives.
“We look forward to working with our brothers and sisters in the CNMI and throughout Micronesia so that we may see more of our people gainfully employed and ultimately, see an improvement in the quality of life for all of our citizens,” Cruz said
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