thedrifter
04-25-06, 07:53 AM
Article published Apr 25, 2006
The Marines are coming
U.S., Japan agree on financing
By Tammy Anderson
Pacific Daily News
tanderson@guampdn.com
U.S. and Japanese officials have reached an agreement on how to finance the $10.3 billion needed to relocate of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam.
Local leaders and residents yesterday said the agreement brings Guam one step closer to the economic growth, increased construction and other positive effects associated with more military presence.
Gov. Felix Camacho yesterday said the expected increase in population also means the island needs about $945 million in infrastructure improvements. Camacho said if that money were not included in the agreement between the U.S. and Japan, he would lobby for the funds.
"I always knew the negotiations would go through," Camacho said. "We, of course, are ecstatic about this and have a committee putting together plans for infrastructure improvement. This is going to be a major move and a dramatic impact upon our current infrastructure capacity."
The agreement comes after talks between the two nations stalled for weeks. U.S. officials had suggested that Japan pay 75 percent of the relocation costs. Japan said it would pay one-third of the $10 billion cost.
On Sunday in Washington, D.C., Japanese Defense Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met for three hours, according to reports from The Associated Press. Japan agreed to shell out $2.8 billion and will finance another $3.3 billion in loans to the U.S.
''We have come to an understanding that we both feel is in the best interests of our two countries,'' Rumsfeld said.
Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo yesterday said she received confirmation the agreement was made and the negotiations on the details will continue this week. Bordallo said the development is an important step in the relations between the U.S. and Japan and the modernization of military forces in the region.
Talks about relocating 8,000 Marines stationed in Japan to Guam began when a global realignment of U.S. military forces was announced in October.
Since that announcement, Camacho said he has been working on a 20-year capital improvement plan for the island and plans to present it to local military leaders within the next few weeks. The governor said he hopes to work with the military to improve Guam's power, water and other infrastructure systems.
Camacho said he expects the first wave of Marines to arrive in 2008 and the transfer to be completed by 2012. It is estimated that the Marines and their families will total about 30,000 people.
Paul Shintaku, deputy general manager for the Port Authority of Guam, is a member of the governor's focus group examining and planning for the impact the transfer will have on Guam's infrastructure.
Shintaku said he hopes the group will receive from federal officials a time line of when and where the troops will be moved to on Guam.
Local contractors also are preparing for the upcoming transfer, said James Martinez, executive director of the Guam Contractors Association.
Local contractors may be first in line to receive millions, and possibly billions, in construction contracts in the next five to eight years, Martinez said.
Martinez said the skilled workforce is not currently large enough to handle the influx.
To meet the need, Martinez said the association is creating a trade academy. Contractors also will have to recruit workers from the U.S. mainland and foreign workers because of the scope of the construction work, he said.
The increased military presence and construction will mean good things for Guam's economy, said Lee P. Webber, past chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Air Forces Committee. Webber also is publisher and president of the Pacific Daily News.
"Historically, Guam's economy has been buoyed by a combination of U.S. military presence and tourism," Webber said. "And about 10 years ago, the bubble that was the Japanese economy burst and then we got hit with ... base closures. That was pretty much a one-two punch to our island's economy."
Tamuning resident Shawn Scott, 31, said he thinks it may feel like a big change when the move begins in 2008. However, after a few years, everyone will be settled and nothing will be different except the economy, Scott said.
Although there may be issues that arise, including an increase of alcohol-related crime, Scott said overall the move is a good thing.
Many Okinawa residents say their share of the burden for the U.S.-Japan security alliance -- the core of Tokyo's postwar defense policy -- is far too heavy. Outrage over bases in Okinawa flared after the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen, prompting huge demonstrations and calls for American troops to leave.
Lin Perez said she has mixed feelings about the Marines coming to Guam, given their reputation among Okinawan residents.
However, as a sales manager at Citibank, Perez said she knows that having the Marines on Guam will help improve the island's economy.
"Everybody needs a bank account," Perez said.
Ellie
The Marines are coming
U.S., Japan agree on financing
By Tammy Anderson
Pacific Daily News
tanderson@guampdn.com
U.S. and Japanese officials have reached an agreement on how to finance the $10.3 billion needed to relocate of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam.
Local leaders and residents yesterday said the agreement brings Guam one step closer to the economic growth, increased construction and other positive effects associated with more military presence.
Gov. Felix Camacho yesterday said the expected increase in population also means the island needs about $945 million in infrastructure improvements. Camacho said if that money were not included in the agreement between the U.S. and Japan, he would lobby for the funds.
"I always knew the negotiations would go through," Camacho said. "We, of course, are ecstatic about this and have a committee putting together plans for infrastructure improvement. This is going to be a major move and a dramatic impact upon our current infrastructure capacity."
The agreement comes after talks between the two nations stalled for weeks. U.S. officials had suggested that Japan pay 75 percent of the relocation costs. Japan said it would pay one-third of the $10 billion cost.
On Sunday in Washington, D.C., Japanese Defense Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met for three hours, according to reports from The Associated Press. Japan agreed to shell out $2.8 billion and will finance another $3.3 billion in loans to the U.S.
''We have come to an understanding that we both feel is in the best interests of our two countries,'' Rumsfeld said.
Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo yesterday said she received confirmation the agreement was made and the negotiations on the details will continue this week. Bordallo said the development is an important step in the relations between the U.S. and Japan and the modernization of military forces in the region.
Talks about relocating 8,000 Marines stationed in Japan to Guam began when a global realignment of U.S. military forces was announced in October.
Since that announcement, Camacho said he has been working on a 20-year capital improvement plan for the island and plans to present it to local military leaders within the next few weeks. The governor said he hopes to work with the military to improve Guam's power, water and other infrastructure systems.
Camacho said he expects the first wave of Marines to arrive in 2008 and the transfer to be completed by 2012. It is estimated that the Marines and their families will total about 30,000 people.
Paul Shintaku, deputy general manager for the Port Authority of Guam, is a member of the governor's focus group examining and planning for the impact the transfer will have on Guam's infrastructure.
Shintaku said he hopes the group will receive from federal officials a time line of when and where the troops will be moved to on Guam.
Local contractors also are preparing for the upcoming transfer, said James Martinez, executive director of the Guam Contractors Association.
Local contractors may be first in line to receive millions, and possibly billions, in construction contracts in the next five to eight years, Martinez said.
Martinez said the skilled workforce is not currently large enough to handle the influx.
To meet the need, Martinez said the association is creating a trade academy. Contractors also will have to recruit workers from the U.S. mainland and foreign workers because of the scope of the construction work, he said.
The increased military presence and construction will mean good things for Guam's economy, said Lee P. Webber, past chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Air Forces Committee. Webber also is publisher and president of the Pacific Daily News.
"Historically, Guam's economy has been buoyed by a combination of U.S. military presence and tourism," Webber said. "And about 10 years ago, the bubble that was the Japanese economy burst and then we got hit with ... base closures. That was pretty much a one-two punch to our island's economy."
Tamuning resident Shawn Scott, 31, said he thinks it may feel like a big change when the move begins in 2008. However, after a few years, everyone will be settled and nothing will be different except the economy, Scott said.
Although there may be issues that arise, including an increase of alcohol-related crime, Scott said overall the move is a good thing.
Many Okinawa residents say their share of the burden for the U.S.-Japan security alliance -- the core of Tokyo's postwar defense policy -- is far too heavy. Outrage over bases in Okinawa flared after the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen, prompting huge demonstrations and calls for American troops to leave.
Lin Perez said she has mixed feelings about the Marines coming to Guam, given their reputation among Okinawan residents.
However, as a sales manager at Citibank, Perez said she knows that having the Marines on Guam will help improve the island's economy.
"Everybody needs a bank account," Perez said.
Ellie