The Journal presents a roundup of timely news from around the islands

The Guam Chamber of Commerce is beginning its move back to its offices in Hagatna. The chamber office suffered significant damage from Typhoon Mawar in May 2023.
“… we kindly request for your patience and understanding as we transition back. Please refrain from sending mail to our Upper Tumon location and be advised to update the address to 372 West Soledad Avenue, Hagåtña, Guam 96910.

“Your Chamber Team will be unavailable for in-person visits for both the Hagåtña and Upper Tumon offices but we can be reach via phone call at (671) 472-6311 or email us at info@guamchamber.com.gu,“ the chamber said. We will have limited access to emails but will respond as soon as time permits.”

The Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association will host the 2024 Primary Candidates Forum featuring senatorial and Congressional candidates on May 28 at the Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon. Doors will open at 10:45am, with lunch served from 11:00-11:45am and the first panel beginning at noon. According to a May 22 release, supporters of the forum organizers include the Hyatt, M80 Systems, and Docomo Pacific.

Tickets are $45 early bird pricing before May 24 and $50 for general admission. The release did not confirm if all invited candidates will attend.

The Marianas Visitors Authority hosted a seminar which drew 76 travel industry representatives, partners and media on May 14 in Tokyo to learn about Saipan, Tinian and Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands, according to a May 20 release.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios welcomed attendees to the MVA seminar. Photo courtesy of Marianas Visitors Authority

Travel industry attendees included H.I.S. Co. Ltd., JTB Corp., KNT Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Rakuten Group Inc., DFS Group Ltd., Ken Hotels & Resort Holdings Ltd., Toyota Tourist International Inc., and Grand Vrio Resort Japan. Skymark Airlines and United Airlines were represented, with United donating two round trip airline tickets to be drawn.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios attended the seminar to welcome attendees. The seminar offered updates on the market, including the new marketing campaign to be launched tentatively in June focusing on four pillars: Community, Nature, Mindfulness, and Immersive (CNMI). Details were also shared about various promotional campaigns, MVA annual signature events, and the new tourism infrastructure such as the Garapan Revitalization Project.

In other MVA news, the authority announced the same day it has hired TRL Architecture to “provide A&E design and construction oversight for the redevelopment of the Marpi Tourist Site Improvement Project covering Bird Island Lookout, Last Command Post, and Suicide Cliff,” through a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Architect Timothy Lang is the project manager for the Garapan Revitalization Project, also funded by the U.S. EDA.

(From left) U.S. Economic Development Administration Representative Joaquin Quenga, Project Manager Timothy Lang of TRL Architecture, EDA Pacific representative Keoki Noji, EDA Regional Director Sheba Person-Whitley, and then Garapan Revitalization Taskforce Chairman Christopher A. Concepcion in front of Paseo De Marianas during an April 28, 2023, visit by the EDA team to the Garapan Revitalization Project site. Photo courtesy of the CNMI Office of Planning and Development.

Improvements to Bird Island Lookout will include a complete site redesign and viewing platforms; new ADA/code compliant stairs, walkways, viewing platforms, and guardrails; and an improved parking area. Improvements to Suicide Cliff Lookout will also include ADA/code compliant stairs, walkways, viewing platforms, a ramp, and guardrails and an improved parking area. Improvements to Last Command Post will include construction of an ADA-compliance restrooms and accompanying septic tank and leaching field.

The A&E design phase is expected to be completed in six months with construction beginning shortly thereafter. The multi-phase project is anticipated to be completed by March 2027, MVA said.

Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia will hold a state referendum on May 31, to ask residents, “Shall the State of Yap commence a review of its Political Status?” mbj