The delegation was organized by the Guam Visitors Bureau, the Guam Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association.
They will be leaving on Sunday, Nov. 13.
The five-person delegation will be comprised of Jim Beighley who will represent GVB, Carl Peterson and Joe Arnett from the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Bartley Jackson from GHRA, and the senior policy advisor to the governor of Guam, Arthur Clark.
While in the nation’s capital, they will be meeting with officials from the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.
DHS granted the CNMI parole authority that allows Chinese and Russian visitors into the commonwealth. However, parole authority was not extended to Guam because of a disparity in opinions within DOD.
Thus, the fate of the China-Russia visa waiver program for Guam is dependent on DOD’s response. In order for DHS to move forward in granting parole authority to Guam, DOD must submit a unified position in support of the program.
According to GVB spokesman Tony Muna, the delegation is a private sector initiative building upon the efforts of Guam’s elected officials.
“Gov. Eddie Calvo and the Guam Legislature have shown on numerous occasions their support for the inclusion of China and Russia into the Visa Waiver Program,” he stated. “The Guam delegation to Washington, D.C. will build upon those efforts and bring in the private sector voice of support.”
Muna noted that much support is given for the military buildup, but support for the diversification and growth of the tourism industry is also needed.
“Guam needs both to achieve economic viability,” he said. “They must and can coexist.”
GVB, Guam Chamber, and GHRA worked with Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo’s Guam and here D.C. office to organize meetings and confirm appointments.
The delegation will be meeting with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and America’s Security Affairs Todd Rosenblum, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment Dorothy Robyn, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment Roger Natsuhara, White House Assistant Director for Intergovernmental Affairs Michael Block, CNMI Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, and Director Nik Pula of the Office of Insular Affairs.
Muna said since this is a trip on behalf of the private sector, no government funds are being used. Members of the delegation from the Guam chamber and GHRA are paying for their own way while GVB will pay for Clark’s expenses.
