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Gutierrez to help ‘We the People’ obtain legal support

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, June 3, 2013) – Former Democratic Gov. Carl Gutierrez and former Republican Lt. Gov. Kaleo Moylan met Friday to discuss strategies to drum up support for the We the People Project, a new movement aimed at achieving equal rights and representation for Americans living in U.S. territories.

"We are trying to organize a group and develop a plan to get legal support for Neil Weare and his group of lawyers to help them sustain the fight for insular issues," Gutierrez said in an interview after his meeting with Moylan at Proa Restaurant.

Weare founded the We the People Project, a nonprofit group seeking equal rights for the 4.7 million marginalized Americans who live in U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

Lawsuit

The movement is anchored on the July 2012 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District of Columbia by persons born in...

Talagi says limited funds should be invested in airport improvements’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 2, 2013) – The premier of Niue, Toke Talagi, doubts the country needs a longer wharf.

A scoping study is underway to determine whether it is feasible to extend the island’s modest wharf at Alofi and construct a boat harbour.

Given the geophysical constraints - the lack of a natural harbour, the deep seas and narrow reef - any such development is likely to come with a huge price tag.

Mr Talagi agrees but says a bigger wharf is not a priority for the island.

"In the analysis that we would be completing to determine in fact if it is worth spending that amount of money for the use of the port, which is once every 3 months for the ship [Matson’s freighter], quite regularly by small boat owners and so on, but in relation to the airport, and my belief at the present moment is that we should focus our attention on the...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

House Trial
Sukola orders separate trials for defendants to avoid more delays

By Gina Tabonares-Reilly

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, June 4, 2013) – Guam Superior Court Judge Anita Sukola is determined to proceed with the trial of the two policemen involved in the Blue House case despite the defense’s argument that the time period for the defendants’ speedy trial has already lapsed.

The court says it still has six remaining days to avoid the violation of the Sixth Amendment rights of David Q. Manila and Anthony T. Quenga who have asked for a speedy trial. But defense attorney Terry Timblin asserts that the court has run out of time and the case against the two GPD members should have been dismissed.

Judge Sukola has already ordered the separate trials of Song Ja Cha, Manila, and Quenga to avoid further...

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

French Polynesia
Territorial assembly passed supporting resolution last week

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 3, 2013) – The French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, has asked France to organize a referendum on self-determination.

The request has been made in a letter to the president, Francois Hollande, after the French Polynesian assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution for such a plebiscite last week.

The move follows last month’s United Nations General Assembly decision by consensus to reinscribe French Polynesia on the UN list of territories to be decolonized.

Both France and the new majority in the French Polynesian assembly wanted the territory to remain off the list.

The assembly has also passed a resolution asking the UN to revisit its decision and rescind the...