Mounting Concern Over Governor Mapp’s 12-Day Guam Trip

ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp is currently in Guam on a 12-day trip to meet with other territorial leaders to discuss climate change and best practices to minimize human impact on the environment. But concerns are arising over the length of the governor’s trip, as Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Esther Kia’aina, the keynote of the event, is scheduled to spend only 6 days on the island for a two-day symposium.

Residents have been reaching out to The Consortium voicing frustration over the governor’s latest travel outside the territory.

“Why is the Governor gone for nearly 2 weeks for a 2-day conference,” asked a resident via email this morning. “Who else is traveling with him? How much is this trip costing? Where else is he going? Did he fly ‘coach’? Why is everything a secret with this man?”

Yet, while Kia’aina will be keynoting the event and will only stay in Guam for one week, Governor Kenneth Mapp has planned various  meetings with other territorial leaders in efforts to strengthen bonds and work together in ways mutually beneficial.

On June 1, Mapp’s Communications Director Kimberly Jones issued a press release detailing the governor’s whereabouts while in Guam, seen in italics immediately below:

Governor Mapp will travel for two days before arriving in Guam, upon arriving he is expected to visit the University of Guam and tour the site of The Nature Conservancy Micronesia Program. 

The next several days will be filled with meetings and discussions under the leadership of the Honorable Eddie Baza Calvo, Governor of Guam member, White House Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

Meetings are scheduled to continue throughout the day, along with presentations by; The Honorable Madeline Z. Bordallo, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives Christy Goldfuss, Acting Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality and The Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior.

Meetings include but are not limited to:

Strengthening Insular Areas in Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency Strategies presented by Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina

U.S. Department of the Interior Climate Change Status Reports in the U.S. Territories Governments of: Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. International Development and Climate Change presented by Winston Bowman, Acting Director of the Pacific Islands Office and Senior Global Climate Change Advisor

U.S. Agency for International Development Disaster Preparedness, presented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Defense: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Pacific Command

Energy Needs and Planning, presented by the U.S. Department of the Interior: Office of Insular Affairs U.S. Department of Energy: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory

On Friday, June 5, The Nature Conservancy of the Virgin Islands will be presented to the assembly followed by a discussion on Natural and Cultural Resources Management

Government House issued a press release on Thursday evening making known that Mapp would be meeting with Governor Eddie Baza Calvo of Guam today to discuss collaborative efforts on climate change following the success of the two men’s initial discussion on Wednesday.

“The session yesterday was excellent with the Virgin Islands commended for its numerous advancements especially in energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy,” said Governor Mapp.

If plans remain on schedule, Mapp will return to the territory on Friday, June 12. Meanwhile, 11 of his cabinet nominees are currently in limbo after being rejected by the 31st Legislature over a salary impasse, and the scandal surrounding the chief executive’s former rental mansion at Estate Nazareth that costed taxpayers well over $53,00 in five months is set to take center stage on July 1 at a Committee of the Whole hearing.