US Territories’ January 18-24, 2021 news week in tweets
US Senator Cory Booker states there “aren’t enough votes to pass statehood for Washington DC and Puerto Rico right now.”
The democratic senator says that the Democratic party must lower their expectations on the issues they are eager to press for. President Biden must focus on making decisions that will have an immediate impact on people’s lives.
No new cases on COVID-19 have been reported in Guam this week
The total number of cases remains at 7,547. There have been a total of 128 deaths related to COVID. 126 people remain in isolation.
Stacey Plaskett calls for the removal of Gretchen Shappert, US Attorney for the Virgin Islands
Plaskett, Delegate to Congress, has written to President Joe Biden to request for Shapperts removal. Plaskett reports that Shappert has been uncooperative, refusing meetings and blocking the engagement with other federal agencies. Plaskett calls for Shappert to be replaced with a local.
The US Treasury has approved $41.3 million for second stimulus checks to the US Virgin Islands
The COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 (CRTRA) will provide the stimulus check.
Large coral reef colony discovered in American Samoa
https://twitter.com/NOAACoral/status/1352661340360495104The largest colony measured 8 m tall, 69 m in circumference, and had a diameter of 22.4 m, according to Scientific Reports, thereby making it one of the largest reefs in the world.
