Enginkehlap News 24-21
Listen to the news in Pohnpeian. Click the play button above. Governor Oliver attends the dedication ceremony for V6AH’s backup/standby generator On Friday, June 25, 2021, Governor Oliver attended a dedication ceremony to mark the arrival and setup of a backup/standby generator for Pohnpei Public Broadcasting Corporation (PPBC)/V6AH. Welcoming remarks were provided by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pohnpei Public Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Kester James. Deacon Santiago blessed the event with an opening prayer, and Mrs. Brenda Hadley-Eperiam, Secretary of the Board of Directors, was the Master of Ceremony. In his remarks, Acting Speaker of the 10th Pohnpei State Legislature, Mr. Stevick Edwin, noted the continuing advances made by V6AH to inform the public through current technologies. He called the generator “an important addition to the toolbox” to continue V6AH’s important task of informing the public. Governor Oliver congratulated Commissioner, Mr. Peterson Sam and the Board of PPBC. He thanked the 10th Pohnpei State Legislature for their continued support, especially in the appropriation of funds for important items like the generator. He also acknowledged the importance of the backup generator in V6AH’s mandate to inform the public, especially during emergencies and the current COVID-19 pandemic. He thanked and acknowledged the work of V6AH, PPBC Board of Directors, the 10th Pohnpei State Legislature, and all involved in making this event take place. Acting Speaker Edwin, Director of Treasury and Administration, Ms. Christina Elnei, and Chairman Kester James, concluded the ceremony with a ribbon-cutting followed by a tour of the generator. Child Protection position at Pohnpei State Government UNICEF Chief of Mission, Cromwell Bacarezza and Chief, Division of Social Services, Noriekka Lekka, paid a courtesy call to Governor Oliver on Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Governor’s Office, Peilapalap, Kolonia. Accompanying Mr. Bacarezza was Stephanie Willis-Ritland, technical advisor, and with Chief, Lekka was Ms. Serpihna Lebehn, Administrative Assistant. The courtesy call provided an opportunity for Mr. Bacarezza and Chief Lekka to officially inform Governor Oliver of a Child Protection Adviser position within the Pohnpei State Government, funded by UNICEF. The position will be for two years and housed under the Division of Social Services, Department of Health and Social Services. The position will soon be advertised by the Pohnpei State Government. Governor Oliver thanked Mr. Bacarezza and Chief Lekka for all the work and support they have put in for this position. He also noted that it is important to consider the cultural context of such positions when dealing with sensitive issues like children and families in Pohnpei. Ms. Willis-Ritland thanked Governor Oliver for mentioning that noting the approach taken for the development of this position will involve community engagement, education, and the training of social workers at the community or grassroots level.