FSM president meeting with Micronesian community

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The president of the Federated States of Micronesia is on Guam with high-level cabinet members reaching out to the local FSM community. The group is spending these next two days speaking with them about some of the recent controversy over gangs and crimes being committed by FAS citizens.  

A part of the reason President Emanuel Mori is in Guam is to stop the violence in the FSM community, which according to the Guam Police Department, is on the rise. "We need to respect the cultures, the laws and regulations of Guam and be good guests, be productive members of the community," Mori said. He along with members of his cabinet are on Guam to meet with the local FSM and Chuukese communities about concerns that have risen about violence.

His day today started with a visit to Adelup during which he met with Acting Governor Ray Tenorio and Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta. "There are in any community a small percentage of the population which engage in criminal activity, gang violence, which are not acceptable, but they model themselves after other things that they see on TV," Tenorio said. Babauta added, "We are trying to collaborate more closely not only between federal agencies, but also with the FAS governments themselves and the governments of the affected jurisdictions. I think what we need to be able to do is bring it down to a grass roots level to alleviate any of the social tensions, any of the misunderstandings."

Over the September 11 weekend three people from the Micronesian community were murdered. The crime, according to the Guam Police Department, was gang-related. Incidents like these and the formation of gangs within this community that are on the rise prompted President Mori's visit to the territory. "So we need to work with citizens of the FAS especially Micronesia and that is my role here to try to start the dialogue, what is it that – can't you understand you are guest, you must behave as guest [sic], you must respect the people, their laws, culture and be thankful," he said.

And while President Mori's visit will only be temporary, newly sworn-in FSM Consul General for Guam Robert Ruecho will be here permanently to ensure the president's message continues. "I want to deal with the Micronesian communities here, have them organize so we can have whatever meetings, and discuss the problems and how to deal with the problem," he explained. "We created a committee a couple weeks back and they came up with an action plan on how to deal with some of these problems so we are going to start to see how we can implement as soon as possible."

Soon evidently isn't quick enough for Piti mayor Ben Gumataotao, who makes no apologies for how he feels about members of the FSM or Chuukese community who commit acts of violence in Guam. "The statements that I made were that we have to get rid of all these people that are creating problems on the island, because this island is a paradise island. We are a peaceful people and want to keep it that way," he sternly stated.

President Mori this evening is scheduled to meet with members of the FSM community, another meeting will be held tomorrow where he will be talking with the Chuukese community in Guam at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center at 6pm.