"National policies often neglect to consider
our interest at all, or do so only as an
afterthought (e.g. by adding "and the Territories" to pieces of legislation.)
Policies
developed specifically for the Territories
are too often developed without proper input
From the affected island governments and peo-
ple.
|
Furthermore, these policies have tended
to lack a strong sense of direction, have had
varying degrees of commitment
|
from President
to President and Congress to Congress, and
have often lacked the necessary understanding
of what it is like to live and work in an
American territory in the Pacific or Caribbean, thousands of miles away from Washington, D.C.
Correspondingly, there has never
been a good understanding of the role, if
any,
that the Territories
should play
in
|
/
"
national policy.
As a result, policies for
the Territories have been haphazardly developed.
|
to
There
problems.
have
For
been
piecemeal
example,
applied to some Territories
without apparent reason, or
with the intent and letter of
legislation,
or,
are
simply
outdated.
The lack of input
tories
and
policies
lem."
are
the
two
inconsistent
aspects
of
laws
responses
have
been
but not others
have conflicted
earlier enacted
irrelevant or
from the Terri-
development
the
same
of
prob-
Territory officials identified examples of foreign, economic, and domestic policies which in their view did not adequately consider
the
territories'
interests
and
needs,
and
adversely impacted economic development.
The most prominent
examples were the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and foreign
relations, Treasury rulings on investment bonds and a legislative attempt to eliminate a corporate tax incentive in Puerto
Rico.
:
The CBI and territory interest
in foreign relations
All the
territories
are becoming
more
active
in
foreign
and regional activities, in some casos as representatives for
the U.S. government.
In addition, many of the territories are
interested
in
expanding
foreign
and
regional
relations
to
enhance economic development and attract investment.
However,
officials from some of the territories believe that the United
States has not adequately considered their potential role or has
formulated policies which could adversely affect them.
7
9000233
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