Press Release #0110-34
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
January 28, 2010

On January 26, 2010, at 9:00 am Honolulu time, the FSM Supreme Court’s sitting Chief Justice, the Honorable Andon L. Amaraich, passed away at Straub Hospital in Hawai’i.  The Chief Justice had been suffering from pneumonia and other complications in Pohnpei and was referred to Hawai’i on January 15, 2010.  He was 77 years old.

The Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in the Pacific

Press Release #0210-05
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
February 3, 2010

On February 10-12, 2010, 16 Pacific Island Countries will come together in Port Vila, Vanuatu to discuss how to move their economies forward from the 2008 global economic crisis and also to determine how best they can respond to any future economic crises. The Conference is being organized by the United Nations in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu, the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the University of the South Pacific.  The FSM is sending a delegation that will be led by Vice President Alik L. Alik and includes Secretary of the FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs, Dr. Vita Skilling, and FSM Ambassador to Fiji, Samson Pretrick, among others.

Putting human beings at the centre of the answer to the global economic crisis 
Press Release #0210-06
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
February 3, 2010
UNDP PRESS RELEASE 

 (Suva, Fiji – 6 January 2010) – Whilst frequently facing natural disasters, the Pacific region is now dealing with the global economic crisis. Although the effects of the latter have not fully reached the Pacific countries yet, there is clear evidence that its consequences will be dramatic if not tackled properly.

FSM Secretary of TC&I visits States in conjunction with Congressional Public Hearings

Press Release #0210-04
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
February 2, 2010

The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure, the Honorable  Francis I. Itimai, by request of the Chairman of the Congressional Committee on Transportation & Communication  (T&C) and approval of the President, travelled to Yap,  Chuuk, and Kosrae from December 12-23, 2010, to join the FSM Chairman of the Transportation & Communication (T&C) Congressional Committee, the Honorable Dion Neth, to attend public hearings on pending bills with the FSM Congress on transportation and communications and also to assist in clarifying issues concerning the work of the National Project Management Unit (PMU) in the oversight hearings conducted by the Committee in all three States.

FSM Millennium Development Goals’ Capacity Building Initiative Project

Press Release #0210-03
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
February 1, 2010

The FSM is currently undergoing a Capacity Building Initiative Project directed at training national and state employees, along with people in the private sector, on collecting and analyzing data for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).  The project is led by Ms. Cecilia Azevedo Sodre, a United Nations Volunteer who is the MDG Project Manager assigned to the FSM, under the direct supervision of the Office of SBOC (Statistics, Budget, Overseas Development Assistance, and Compact Management).  Ms. Sodre will conduct a statistical assessment and training on the MDG indicators for employees from the Departments of Health, Education, Resources & Development and the Environment in the four state governments and the FSM National Government, and also for people in civil society and non-government organizations. In addition, Ms. Sodre will be working on the MDG Database which will store MDG indicators and MDG related data from 1990 to present. The main purpose of the database is to assist the four state governments and the FSM National Government in reporting on MDGs as well as national and state development goals in a more regular and systematic manner.

New FSM Scholarship Board awards Graduate Scholarships

Press Release #0110-35
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
January 29, 2010

Press Release from the FSM Scholarship Board

The FSM Scholarship Board met on January 28, 2010 to determine scholarship amounts for graduate students who have completed their applications prior to the meeting.  Note that these awards are recommendations that will be forwarded to the President for his approval.