Torres bats for closer cooperation with region’s leaders

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, who has been elected as chairman of the Pacific Basin Development Council during a meeting in Hawaii last week, wants to forge stronger ties with other Pacific leaders who are members of the Western Governors Association.

The PBDC is a non-profit organization composed of governors of the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the State of Hawaii. A board manages the group, which aims to further economic and social development of Pacific islands.

Torres said he has already met with Hawaii Gov. David Y. Ige, and has spoken with Gov. Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga of American Samoa and Guam governor-elect Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero to map out PBDC’s projects.

In his talks with Ige, Torres said he and the Hawaii governor have talked about revamping the organization and the Pacific region’s development—the same subject of his talks with Guam’s Leon Guerrero. He said they intend to pursue this subject when they meet again at the National Governors Association meeting in February.

Torres said he looks forward to working with these elected leaders so they could address the economic issues and other concerns that affect the lives of the people of their constituencies.

The NGA, founded in 1908, is a non-partisan organization composed of the 55 U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths. They will be holding their winter meeting from Feb. 22 to 25 in Washington, D.C.

Torres also welcomed the electoral victories of Ige, Leon Guerrero, and Moliga. “Now that we have four years to go, it is a good opportunity for us to look at our mutual interest to benefit our region. We’re going to look at how we can benefit economically and socially here in the Pacific.”

“One of the things that we’re looking at is obviously economic viability. We plan to have early clearance, where tourists from Japan can clear Japan as they enter Saipan and others, and to make sure that they will travel safely. We’re going to sit down and discuss more and make adjustments when we meet.”

Torres said in a previous statement that the coming years would showcase the region’s importance. “The beauty of the Pacific and PBDC will be critical for all our islands to continue the work of supporting greater standards of living for our people.”

The U.S. states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are the other WGA members.