August 2020

On August 27, 2020, Governor Oliver, Lt. Governor Perman, and Director of the Department of Treasury and Administration, Christina Elnei attended the Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB) Board of Governors Annual Meeting. It was conducted virtually. The agenda items for the meeting included Bank´s Operations, Strategic Initiatives, Budget and Financial Statements, Loan Portfolios, and Delinquency Reports. The PIDB Board of Governors is ultimately responsible for overseeing the Bank´s activities and administration, although, in practice, they delegate many of those responsibilities to the Board of Directors. The Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB) is a sub-regional financial institution established to assist member countries/island jurisdictions in their economic development endeavors through its lending and assistant programs. Current members include Pohnpei State, Chuuk State, Yap State, Kosrae State, Territory of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. For more information, you can visit the PIDB website at https://pacificidb.com/ or contact the Public Information Officer at phone number: 320-2235 or email:pohnpeipublicinformation@gmail.com

On August 24, 2020, the Honorable Reed B. Oliver, Governor of Pohnpei State attended the opening ceremony for the Pohnpei State Department of Public Safety Police Academy 20-20, at the Pohnpei State Division of Fire and Rescue building. In his special remarks to the cadets of Police Academy 20-20, Governor Oliver thanked Director of Public Safety, Mr. Patrick Carl, for putting together the Police Academy this year. With 24 recruits from the state, national and municipal jurisdictions, Governor Oliver noted that this sort of cooperation strengthens existing agreements like the Joint Law Enforcement Agreement (JLEA) between state, national, and municipal Police forces. Governor Oliver shared three virtues with the cadets to help them during their training: Respect, Responsibility, and Honesty. Governor Oliver said these three virtues will not only help them during the Academy but also afterward in positions as Police Officers and in all areas. After the introduction of Academy Staff and Instructors, Police Academy 20-20 officially started, with the Instructors getting to know the cadets through an intense round of discipline and physical training. Police Academy 20-20 will run for 12 weeks. Good luck to the cadets! #Enginkehlap

On August 20, 2020, Lieutenant Governor Feliciano M. Perman represented Governor Reed B. Oliver at the Kahmar, Nett Bridge hand-over ceremony. In a symbolic hand-over of the Kahmar bridge from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM, Pohnpei State, and Nett Municipality), a framed photo of the bridge was presented by Mr. Wu of China Railway Construction Company to Ambassador Huang Zheng then to FSM Vice- President George then to Pohnpei State Lt. Governor Perman who finally handed over to the Nett District Administrator Hon. Nelsin Iriarte. H.E. Huang Zheng and T.H. Yosiwo P. George’s remarks highlighted the relationship between China and FSM founded on the bedrock of the One-China Policy. This relationship and the many infrastructure projects completed in the FSM. T.H. Yosiwo P. George, on behalf of President Panuelo, thanked Ambassador Huang and the Government of PRC for its generous assistance to the FSM. “The bridge will be a long-standing symbol of the friendship between the People’s Republic of China and the People of FSM,” he said. In his remarks, Lt. Governor Perman echoed similar sentiments expressed by Vice President George by thanking the Government of PRC for various programs and projects to Pohnpei State. In addition to Kahmar Bridge, the secondary roads and the Farm Pilot Project in Madolenihmw, the Pohnpei State Government Administration Building, and its expected renovation. Iso-Nahnken of Nett thanked Ambassador Huang Zheng and the China Railway Construction Company for the bridge on behalf of his people and his Kingdom of Nett. He noted that the completion and opening of the bridge is highly anticipated because ease of transportation is very important for the communities in Nett. Following the remarks made by the dignitaries, Nahnkeniei Nett led the spouses of the dignitaries to the Bridge and performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dignitaries at the hand-over ceremony included His Royal Highness, Salvador Iriarte, Iso-Nahnken of Nett, His Excellency Huang Zheng, PRC Ambassador to FSM, Hon.Yosiwo P. George, Vice President of the FSM, Hon.Felciano M. Perman, Lt. Governor of Pohnpei State, Hon. Ausen T. Lambert, Speaker of 10th Pohnpei Legislature, Hon.Kandhi Eliesar, FSM Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Carlson D. Apis, FSM Secretary of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure, Nett District Administrator, Hon. NelsinIriarte and Nett Municipal Chief Justice and Soukahmar Hon. Inos Ponapart.

In a short ceremony held at the Governor’s Conference Room on August 17, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., four members of the Pohnpei State Contract Review Board were sworn-in by the Governor of Pohnpei State, Hon. Reed B. Oliver.  Fr. Dave Andrus, S.J., blessed the occasion with an opening prayer.  In attendance was Iso Nahnken of Madolenihmw, Hon. John Adolph, as Administrator of the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure (T & I), Hon. Ausen T. Lambert, Speaker of the 10th Pohnpei State Legislature, Lt. Governor Perman, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation (PUC) General Manager, Nixon Anson, spouses of members, relatives, T & I  and Governor’s Office staff. After the administration of the oath, ISO Adoph and Speaker Lambert presided over the presentation of certificates of appointments to the members as follows: 1. Mr. Quirino Loyola 2. Ms. Josephine Carl 3. Mr. Stanley Etse 4. Mr. Alex Nanpei   Governor Oliver gave brief remarks by congratulating the new Board Members and thanked Speaker Lambert and all members of the 10th Pohnpei Legislature for their blessing and support in the confirmation process. He also thanked and recognized those who were in attendance especially spouses and relatives of the members.   Speaker Lambert congratulated the members and offered an aide-memoire or memory aid as “food for thought” to help them while discharging their important duty of reviewing and awarding contracts for the State of Pohnpei.   Mr. Quirino Loyola represented his colleagues and thanked the Governor, Speaker, and Members of 10th Pohnpei Legislature for their trust, support, and the opportunity to serve the People the best they can in that capacity.     Congratulations to the new Board members! #Enginkehlap

On Friday, August 14, 2020, Pohnpei State Governor Hon. Reed B. Oliver administered oaths of office to newly confirmed members of the Board of Land Surveyors Examiners and Public Lands Trust, Board of Trustees at the Governor’s Conference Room. In attendance at this important occasion were Waslapalap Sahngoro, 10th Pohnpei Legislature, Speaker Hon. Ausen T. Lambert, Lt. Governor Felciano M. Perman, Director of Land/WahsahiSokehs Peter M. Lohn, Senior Pastor/Former FSM Congress Speaker Bethwel Henry, several honorable members of the legislature, cabinet members, spouses and relatives of the Board members, friends and government employees. In his opening remarks, Governor Oliver welcomed everybody and extended his special thanks to Speaker Lambert, Chairman of Committee on Land, and the 10th Pohnpei State Legislature for their cooperation and support to confirm the members of these two important Boards. He highlighted the crucial roles both Boards play in the service and management of our most valuable resource/possession; our land. Speaker Lambert echoed similar sentiments on the importance of their roles and encouraged proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities called for in the administration of public lands held in trust by the government. The Board of Land Surveyors Examiners are: 1. Mr. Alex Nanpei 2. Mr. Kuhmer Biza 3. Mr. Marcelino Actoucka 4. Mr. Rensper Alpet For the Public Lands Trust, Board of Trustees they are: 1. Mrs. Antonia Primo-Moses, Likend U 2. Mr. Esirom Neth 3. Mr. John Nakanaga 4. Mr. Patterson Shed 5. Mr. Max Lebehn 6. Mr. Wayne Mendiola, Jr. 7. Mr. Lewis Santos Mr. Alex Nanpei represented the Board of Land Surveyors Examiners and Likend U, Mrs. Antonio Primo-Moses represented the Public Lands Trust in giving short remarks thanking Governor Oliver, Speaker Lambert and Legislature for the opportunity to serve on these Boards. Congratulations to the newly sworn-in Board members! The full ceremony on video will be available on Pohnpei Public Broadcasting Corporation’s Facebook page and Youtube Channel.

On August 11, 2020, Governor Oliver and Lieutenant Governor Perman received the FSM National Government’s assessment team for repatriation efforts at the Governor’s conference room. The FSM team, led by Dr. Eliaser Johnson and Dr. Ko, met Pohnpei State COVID-19 Task Force led by Chairman/Director Wincener J. David, to discuss areas of improvements/gaps identified by the team during its simulation exercise conducted on August 6, 2020, receiving, processing and handling repatriated citizens and residents upon arrival from COVID-19 infected areas in accordance with CEO 20-03 as amended by LR 40-20. In his opening remarks, Governor Oliver thanked the team on behalf of the people of Pohnpei and reaffirmed collaboration between the team and the State and National Task Forces. He further called for the FSM Government’s assistance with technical expertise and fiscal resources as needed to address and correct the identified gaps at the earliest time possible. Dr. Eliaser Johnson outlined the next steps in the process to address the gaps. The National Assessment team will be working with their state counterparts to formulate action plans to address the gaps. A full report to the Task Force will be expected by next week.  

The Pohnpei State COVID-19 Task Force application for a certificate of qualified entry and application for importation of human remains is posted below/available for download. Please note that admittance for travelers, including attendants of human remains, will be allowed on a case-by-case basis, subject to all screening, detection, quarantine & isolation procedures/protocols. Please fill out the application(s) entirely and send to email: WDavid@fsmhealth.fm Application for a Certificate for Qualified Entry CQE Application Application for Importation of Human Remains HR Application A1