Letters to the Editor

My condolences to the family and people of Pohnpei. I honestly believe that such comments as made by Professor Haglelgam are wrongly timed for our citizens as well as our loved ones in the battlefields. It is true that the famous words by one of the greatest military general in the whole world, Gen. Douglas MacArthur are not intended for other soldiers other than the Americans, but the values can be applied to others.

While our FSM soldiers are suffering, I wish such comments should not be heard by them. They need our encouraging words, our salutes, our prayers for protection, and our thanks for their services. I am very thankful that fellow citizens in the US Armed Forces are taking risks to protect and preserve the democratic principles and freedom that I enjoyed so much since the birth of our nation, FSM.

It is true that the financial benefits for these soldiers are great, but where are the financial benefits and securities that our country is offering them? I believe that these soldiers are caring, loving, and responsible fathers, husbands, sons, daughters to their families back in the FSM as they seek for financial supports for their families that could hardly be found at home. I also believe that these soldiers are very responsible citizens as they were very well disciplined during their military careers.

To conclude my comment, I once again wish that such discouraging comments as offered by the good professor and the former president, should not be made especially at this critical time in the whole world as our fellow FSM soldiers are fighting terrorism for us who live peacefully everyday.

Hibson Palik

Guam Omissions From Pacific People
As a long time subscriber to your publication, I always look forward to reading about the significant developments in my favorite part of the world.

I especially enjoyed this month's feature story "Pacific People." In the Guam section of the article, I was disappointed, however, to note two omissions, or "gaps" as you call them, for prominent island citizens.

I specifically refer to Adolfo Pietro Sgambelluri, U.S. Federal Security Director, Transportation Security Administration, Guam International Airport, and E. L. Bill Gibson, Jr., former Executive Director, The (Guam) Employers Council, Tamuning, Guam.

Both of these individuals have an impressive curriculum vitae and they have greatly contributed to economic, political and social developments in Guam during the past forty years.

Please consider including these prominent citizens in future features about Guam.

Dr. William Henry Barbee, Jr.
Former President
The Guam Society of America, Inc.
Washington, D.C.

PRISM And The Pacific Almanac
One of the first things I found on returning from the Christmas break was your article in Pacific magazine which gave PRISM an honorable mention for its role in disseminating data for the Pacific Islands. This was a delight to see, because it is another much-valued piece of evidence that we are meeting the aims we had in mind when first chasing funds for PRISM in early 2002. We all know that there is still a long way to go, but as we see the Pacific Islands government agencies embracing electronic dissemination and the exponential increase in traffic through the PRISM website, it is very gratifying to know that the project has made a significant positive contribution to the region. And now that users are increasingly aware of PRISM potential (and AusAID has locked in supporting funding for the next three years) it will be a source of immense satisfaction to retire in a few months and know that the work that has gone into PRISM will be yielding benefits for the foreseeable future.

Garth Parry
Statistician
Secretariat of the Pacific Community,
New Caledonia

We welcome your letters. They can be sent by email to pmeditor@pacificbasin.net or by regular mail to Pacific Magazine, 1000 Bishop Street, Suite 405, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, U.S.A.