US Territories’ March 22-28, 2021 news week in tweets
Kayakers in Puerto Rico protest unreliable ferry services
Residents of the Puerto Rican islands, Culebra and Vieques, rely on ferry services for transportation and necessities. Protesters in kayaks were blocking an incoming ferry, and were rammed by a police boat. The protesters were forced to jump into the water.
Residents of Guam have yet to receive stimulus checks
Residents of Guam have yet to receive $1,400 stimulus checks from the American Rescue Plan Act. It is currently unknown when residents will receive their checks.
Tourists seek COVID vaccine in the US Virgin Islands
All adults in the US Virgin Islands are eligible for the vaccine. As a result, many tourists have sought vaccination in the USVI. Approximately three percent of vaccines in the territory have gone to tourists.
US EPA awards $5,693,217 to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
Funding from the EPA will go to address the effects of Typhoon Yutu, as well as improving waste management facilities in the Northern Mariana Islands. The funds are a part of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act.
American Samoa’s relationship with the US may be in jeopardy as a result of a US court decision to allow large fishing boats into its waters
The American Samoa Government claims that this ruling violates a 1900 treaty, which prevents boats larger than 50 feet from entering the waters of American Samoa. The government argues that violating the treaty is a violation of the fundamental rights of American Samoa. Residents of American Samoa now seek to overturn this decision.
