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Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said she was “envious” of the Federated States of Micronesia’s independence and self-determination, leaving much to be desired for Guam. The governor in her opening remarks at FSM’s 39th Independence Day celebration on Saturday said as a result of FSM’s political status change in 1986, it gained a strong voice in the global world and throughout the Northern Pacific and Southern Pacific islands. “Your voice is heard everywhere,” Leon Guerrero said, addressing FSM President Wesley Simina. “You can control your destiny, your economy, your immigration, your government, [and] all the factors of government with your independence, something that I’m so envious about with Guam.” The governor added that Guam continues to fight and struggle for its self-determination. She told the Pacific Daily News that there are ways to improve, comparing Guam’s limited voice to FSM’s presence in global politics. “The strength of [FSM’s] independence is that foreign countries also support them alongside the United States, and they can negotiate freely with those foreign countries,” Leon Guerrero told the PDN. “With the United Nations, they have a strong voice. They are on those levels where policies can move forward on behalf of their country. We always have to work through the United States.” Fitting with the theme of the celebration, unity, Leon Guerrero said Guam and FSM must work together to protect its natural resources. She and Simina spoke about the importance of the islands’ connections through culture, shared values, and hopes. “I have great respect for the resources, talents, and the skills of our brothers and sisters from FSM. Most importantly, we are beneficiaries of your professional achievements here in Guam in the areas of medicine, health care, education, public safety, retail, and tourism. You have all contributed to the betterment of our economy and to uplifting the quality of life of our people as Pacific Islanders,” she said. ‘Charted its own course’ Del. James Moylan said the ratification of FSM’s constitution in 1979 and it becoming a sovereign nation in 1986 through the Compact of Free Association was more than a political moment, but a “declaration of identity, cultural pride, and hope for generations to come.” “FSM’s story is one of strength. It is a story of a proud Pacific nation that chartered its own course, grounded in tradition, guided by dreams of future generations and carried forward by the enduring spirit of its communities,” Moylan said. “That spirit is felt across every island, every village and every family. It is a spirit Guam recognizes deeply we celebrate not only independence, but endurance, the kind of endurance that comes from facing storms and still choosing hope.” Simina said Guam has “opened its island, its schools, its workplaces, and its heart to FSM,” and fostered a partnership both governments want to maintain. “[Guam] is more than geography. It is family. We grow stronger together through respect, understanding, and education,” Simina said. The governor said the islands’ shared challenges in air transportation, economics, workforce development, and connectivity, are cause to “unite as one Pacific voice.” “The strength of that voice will be heard globally and will be heard. We respect each other’s diversity as Pacific Islanders, we respect each other’s religion as Pacific Islanders, we respect each other’s different cultures, languages, and we learn from each other,” Leon Guerrero said. “That’s what we are about as Pacific Islanders, but more importantly, we must in this part of the world unite with one voice.” ‘Guam is a diverse culture’ Other speakers at the event were interim president of FSM Association of Guam Janise Mackwelung Freddy and Elizabeth Rutun, M.A. English instructor at the University of Guam. Freddy’s father was the first FSM consulate general in Guam. She said Micronesians have “fought to be known” on the island and were not always accepted into the community. In recent years, however, CHamorus have developed strong relationships with FSM families and learned to appreciate all four states. “Guam is a diverse culture, so it is easy for us to blend in after so many years,” Freddy said. “Decades before, it was so hard to be Micronesian, but [now] Guam knows the difference between all four states. [We’re] part of the community and acquainted with culture.” Rutun shared a story from when she was attending college in Hawaii when her teachers and classmates were unfamiliar with her home island Yap and would generalize her origins as “from Micronesia.” She added that Guam today is more understanding and aware of FSM’s individual islands and uses less misnomers to refer to its residents, allowing for fairer and more accurate representation of FSM culture. “Celebrations like this allow us to have that space to define what it means to be FSM citizen. Celebrating in Guam lets us consider how to represent our nation and be stewards away from home,” Rutun said.
