by Mindy Aguon
Guam - The University of Guam is at the tail end of completing the 2012 Micronesian Migrant Survey, which was requested by the government of the Federated States of Micronesia. Program leader Pete Barcinas says 400 households were surveyed as the FSM leadership wants to determine both the positive and negative impacts and contributions of their citizens in Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, and the U.S. mainland.
The surveys are expected to provide a more clear and complete picture of the migrant groups - collecting information on demographics, health, welfare, housing and cultural aspects. He explained, "In this case the FSM government is taking on their survey specific to their own interests to asses not only the impact of migration to wherever their citizens are locating to, but also to assess the benefits of those impacts are more so the positive impacts to the places that they're residing in," said Barcinas.
"For us to assess the well being of migrants into wherever they locate to is important for not only those jurisdictions, but also for the country thats wants to know the status of their citizens."
The report will likely also touch on the costs incurred by Guam and other jurisdictions that host Freely Associated States citizens and the lack of full reimbursements from the federal government. Barcinas expects the survey will be completed in late-June or early-July.