US Territories’ October 10-16, 2022 news week in tweets

Residents of the US Virgin Islands gather to honor the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

On September 25, people from across the US Virgin Islands gathered to honor homicide victims on the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The group dressed in red, and many used the day for advocacy or counseling. 

Shepparton locals throw support behind Northern Mariana Islands soccer team

After a Northern Mariana Islands soccer team’s devastating loss to China’s team, Shepparton locals wanted to show support for the teams’ passion and energy on the field. Three locals attended the team’s training and donated money to the program, which boosted the small territory’s morale. 

American Samoa drops large travel restriction 

The American Samoa government decided to drop the Talofa Pass, a large travel restriction system the territory uses when visitors are trying to enter the region. 

Guam attempts to join the Pacific Islands Forum 

The government of Guam attempts to join the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), a group consisting of nations and territories in the Pacific that are used to make legislative decisions, but many are skeptical if the United States is behind its request to join. America being involved in this group could enforce a heavier US influence on the other nations in the Pacific. 

Puerto Rico residents fail to receive federal aid after Hurrican Fiona

Because many residents in Loíza don’t have proper housing documentation, they struggle with receiving financial aid from the US government. While these communities appear to have been hurt the hardest by the hurricane, they are receiving very little aid compared to other communities.