Simple directory > Regional > Guam

Official name: Territory of Guam Head of State: President of the USA, George W Bush Head of government: Governor Felix Perez Camacho (Republican) (from 6 Jan 2003) Ruling party: Republican Party (elected Nov 2004) Area: 549 square km Population: 164,500 (2004) Capital: Agaña Official language: English Currency: US dollar (US$) = 100 cents GDP per capita: US$21,000 (2003) Labour force: 60,000 (2003) Unemployment: 15.00% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$127.30 million (2003) Visitor numbers: 909,506 (2003)

 

Historical profile

Guam is the largest of the Marianas islands, which were occupied by the Chamorro Indians, a Malayo-Polynesian people, around 1500 BC.

1521 The Spanish seized control of Guam, which became a calling port for Spanish galleons travelling between Mexico and the Philippines.

1898 The Spanish were forced out of Guam after the US victory in the Spanish-American war. It was transformed into a naval base.

1941 The US were forced out by the Japanese in the Second World War.

1944 US rule was reinstated after three years of fighting. Guam has remained an important strategic base since then.

1950 The Organic Act of Guam granted the island internal self-government and the islanders US citizenship, but not voting rights in US elections.

1962 The US passed the Naval Clearing Act which opened Guam's ports to foreign visitors.

1975 More than 100,000 evacuees from the fall of Vietnam were repatriated via Guam.

1996 Around 7,000 Kurdish refugees, fearing retaliation from Iraqi leader Sadham Hussein were housed on Guam.

1997 The strongest ever recorded typhoon ripped through Guam, leaving thousands homeless.

2002 A Guam delegation visited China. This was followed by the visit of a group of Chinese officials to Guam as the two countries endeavoured to strengthen their economic relationship. Felix Camacho (Republican) was elected governor. Typhoon Chata'an struck Guam in July. US President Bush declared Guam a federal disaster area, freeing money and resources for the relief effort, but before the island could recover, it was struck again, by Supertyphoon Pongsona.

2003 Felix Camacho took office on 6 January.

2004 In June, a state of emergency was declared after Typhoon Tingting hit the island, leaving it almost completely inundated. Northern Marianas and Guam were struck by Super Typhoon Chaba in August. In November, the Republicans won control of the legislature from the Democrats in the parliamentary elections.

 

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