May 18, 2022

Governor of the State of Pohnpei, Hon. Reed B. Oliver, departed today, May 16, 2022, for a medical referral off-island. The Governor was accompanied by First Lady, Mrs. Estle G. Oliver. Acting Lt. Governor, Hon. Christina Elnei has been designated by Governor Oliver. Congratulations to the First Acting Female Lieutenant Governor of Pohnpei, a historic occasion for Pohnpei. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to Pohnpei for Governor Oliver. Subsection (2) of section 2-102 of Title 3 of the Pohnpei Code reads, “(2) When the Lieutenant Governor is temporarily absent from the state, is temporarily disabled, or is constitutionally prohibited from exercising the powers and duties of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the powers and duties of the Office of the Lt. Governor shall devolve upon the Attorney General, the Director of the Department of Treasury and Administration, the Director of the Department of Education, the Director of the Department of Health Services, the Director of the Department of Public Safety … (etc) in the order named.” Subsection (5) of Section 2-102 reads in pertinent part, “…No officer shall act as Governor or Lieutenant Governor under this section unless the officer has been appointed and confirmed prior to the time the powers and duties of the Office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor devolve upon the officer…” As the Office of the Attorney General is filled by an Acting Attorney General, an appointment that does not require legislative confirmation, the line of succession falls to the Director of the Department of Treasury and Administration. During the absence of the Governor and Lt. Governor, Ms. Elnei, as Acting Lt. Governor shall exercise the powers and duties of the Governor.