Pacific Magazine > Magazine > March 1, 2003

Letters

Letters

Billion with a B
According to the U.S. Government Accounting Office, $1.6 Billion (“with a “B”) of compact funds was squandered. Your characterizations of new U.S. accountability measures as “so intrusive” is not accurate. On the contrary, they are rather minimal efforts to prevent the endemic theft and misuse of vast sums of money by a few government officials. While Yap appears to be fiscally responsible, the same cannot be said for the other states. One need only examine the Chuuk Hospital situation in which millions earmarked for the hospital never got there. The excuse that Americans failed to train Micronesian politicians not to steal is laughable. If they want the money, they have to account for it. Period.
Everett Walton
Special Prosecutor
Republic of Palau

Out In Football

Regarding your January article about Esera Tuaolo’s coming out. Once again, it takes a transplanted Pacific Islander athlete to break down the barriers. Just as Hawaiian Takamiyama (Jesse Kuhaulua) showed that you don’t have to be Japanese to be a sumo champion, Esera has shown that you don’t have to be heterosexual to play good professional football. Esera reminds us that manly courage and a respect for diversity are lessons Pacific Islanders are well placed to teach.
Craig Volker
Gifu, Japan

Developing Leaders
Thanks to Pacific Magazine for the news on the passing of Father Felix Yaoch. He was a teacher at Xavier High School when I was a student there in the 60’s. He was an excellent teacher but more importantly a great human being. Unfortunately, your short story failed to mention his important work at Xavier where he contributed a great deal to the development of many of the current Micronesia leaders.
Kasio E. Mida
FSM Consul General
Honolulu, Hawaii

The Almanac
The January issue was great! The Almanac concept is something I had wanted to do, but never had the time.
A. Bruce Jensen, Jr.
Founder, Pacific Magazine
Fontana, Wisconsin

Our Future
I'm 18 years old and I live on the island of Ebeye in the Marshall Islands. I read all of Pacific Magazine and it's giving me knowledge about the Pacific and making me think of our future. I love it and I want to know more and read more about the Pacific Islands.
Alfred Calvin
Ebeye, Marshall Islands.