ON THURSDAY, June 14, I was delighted when I read Marianas Variety’s article that highlighted the Guam Invasive Species Council’s (GISC's) proposition to create a sub-committee to review current import laws and other relevant statutes to prevent the importation of invasive species to Guam. As the author of P.L. 31-43, this is exactly the progress that was envisioned when drafting the bill. P.L. 31-43 also provides an opportunity for Customs & Quarantine to join forces with the Department of Agriculture to apply for federal grants that will further assist with the eradication of these pests that have made their way to our island both at the border and inland. The devastation that invasive species have caused on our environment has spanned beyond the purview of farmers and environmentalists; it has become apparent to all of us that these pests are destroying our tropical paradise.

We must double our efforts not only to protect our island for future generations, but also to enhance our environment so we remain attractive as a tourism destination.

As the minority representative in the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL), I am currently in Saipan attending the 31st General Assembly themed “Economic Development: Strengthening Local Economies throughout the Blue Continent." This year’s conference agenda will focus on transportation, tourism, and natural resources. Because APIL’s general assemblies have been deemed one of the largest gatherings for today’s Pacific policymakers, representatives from the Guam Visitors Bureau and cruise ship entrepreneurs will also be present to network, pitch business opportunities, and develop greater relationships with the policymakers in our region which will ultimately enhance all efforts of our common objective: economic development.

I can't wait to return home to share the progress made and continue the work of building more opportunities for Guam.

Aside from tourism, another economic opportunity is the military’s force realignment to Guam. With the delay in progress, we must explore alternatives to boost our economy. This past weekend, I spoke with many business owners about the current release of tax refunds and its impact on their business. They’ve all indicated they are grateful for the current tax refund release and that they’ve had a small spike in sales; however, they realize this is not sustainable. This is why other markets, such as the Chinese and Russian tourism markets, must receive full attention when it comes to securing additional spending in the private sector.

This will further assist with the growth of businesses and the opportunity to hire more employees. With thousands of recent graduates, our people need a vibrant economy so they can find careers to develop their quality of life.

We must begin the quest for economic development by placing the protection of our environment first, which will in turn boost tourism, and further enable us to market our island as a destination in a tropical paradise.