For FSM National Government employees in Pohnpei only, be careful

When normal government work period is interrupted by power outage, what should employees do?

a) go home, no use to stay around;

b) go home and come back when power is restored to cover lost workhour(s)

c) stay and wait for power to come back, then cover the hours lost by outage;

d) make use of your government hours somehow around your office then go home at regular clock out time -- be resourceful!

e) whatever!

Which category have you been applying? Like today, Friday, the power went out around 2-ish and didn't come back until around 5:30. What did you do?

Power scheduling is no stranger. 

Video of President Mori giving the State of the Nation Address

Video of President Mori giving the State of the Nation Address on May 29, 2013.


http://youtu.be/FPhNn_by4nc

The Speech: (the entire State of the Nation message by President Mori)

President Manny Mori gave his State of the Nation address yesterday at the FSM Congress chamber. Here is the full text of the speech in the link below.


http://www.fsmpio.fm/Speeches/mori/SNA_Message_2013.pdf 

Images from today's State of the Nation delivery

President Manny Mori during delivery of the State of the Nation Address on the 19th day of the first regular session of the 18th FSM Congress. Listening from the backside: Speaker Dohsis Halbert, top, Mrs. Liwiana Ramon-Ioanis, rigth, Chief Clerk; Mr. Lam Tan, Legal Counsel; Mr. Andy Andrew, Journal Clerk.

Senator Tiwiter Aritos and Senator Tony Otto

From top: Floor Leader Singkoro Harper, Senator Joseph J. Urusemal, Senator Vicky Gouland, Senator David W. Panuelo, Senator Isaac V. Figir, Senator Bonsiano Fasy Nethon, and partly shown, Senator Tiwiter Aritos.

Members of the Diplomatic Corp at front seats; Our Lady of Mercy Church Chuukese choir members at back seats.

Fr. Julio Angkel, Vicar of Pohnpei and Kosrae Vicariate of the Catholic Church, leading the prayer reflection before the President gave the State of the Nation address.

Lt. Governor Marcelo Peterson, top right, Chief of Staff Leo Falcam Jr., bottom right, Secretary Lorin Robert, bottom left, NORMA Executive Director Mr. Patrick McKenzie, Ambassador to China Akilino Susaia, center, and two other National Government Officials.

Staff members of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management and the Department of Justice.

Congress legal staff at front seats and choir members directly behind...

Sen. David W. Panuelo

 

Sen. Wesley W. Simina

 

Vice Speaker Paliknoa K. Welly

 

Cabinet, Staff members and other Heads of agences and institutions..

 

President Manny Mori

 

The full text of the President's message will be linked here once uploading process is complete.

FSM/Kosrae Post Office bidding information

In line with bidding requirements, specifically for the construction of the FSM Post Office in Kosrae, the links below will show materials that have been posted on the FSM Information Office website for public view.

http://www.fsmpio.fm/bids/tcni_2013/kosrae_postal_services.pdf

http://www.fsmpio.fm/bids/tcni_2013/Addendum_No.1.PDF

http://www.fsmpio.fm/bids/tcni_2013/Addendum_No.2.pdf

Speaker Halbert wants "different meeting arrangement" leading to State of the Nation Address

FSMIS (May 23, 2013): A day for President Manny Mori is to deliver the State of the Nation address to Congress and the rest of the Nation, Speaker Dohsis Halbert assembles the technical staff from Congress Office and the President's Office to jointly put in the last "set up" details.

For starters, the address will be preceded by a song from the Our Lady of Mercy Church International Group and a scripture reflection by Fr. Julio Angkel, Vicar of the Vicariate of Pohnpei and Kosrea in the Catholic Church.

The final planers include Congress Office Administrator, Mr. Suda S. Rayel, Mr. Lam Tang, Legal Counsel, Mrs. Liwiana Ramon Ioanis, Chief Clerk, and the Congress PIO staff:  Dayston Roby and Andy Choor. Senator David W. Panuelo offers valuable inputs from Members' view, along with the Speaker himself.

Chief of Staff, Mr. Leo Falcam Jr. leads the crew from the President's Office involving Mr. Pelsasar Petrus, Special Assistant to the President on Administrative Affairs and Marcellus J. Akapito, Special Assistant to the President on Public Information.

Arrangement have been made to have live radio broadcast of the President's address throughout the FSM with assistance from FSM Telecom and two radio stations in Pohnpei. Telecom also has the capacity to stream such broadcast through the Internet for net users.

Including a biblical reflection and having songs to accompany the State of the Nation address is a new creative arrangement in the program.

Rear Admiral Payne makes courtesy call on President Mori

President Manny Mori received a courtesy call by Rear Admiral Tilghman Payne earlier today after the Memorial Day event, honoring Micronesia's fallen heroes who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Rear Admiral Payne is Commander, U.S. Defense Representative for Guam, CNMI, FSM and Palau.

President Mori and Rear Admiral Payne, joined by U.S. Ambassador Doria Rosen

Memorial Day 2013: Remembering FSM's Fallen Heros

Through coordination under the FSM Department of Foreign, with assistance from the US Embassy in Pohnpei, a Memorial Day solemn ceremony took place at the Pohnpei International Airport remembering FSM's fallen heroes. Nine photos of FSM citizens who died serving in the US Armed Forces have been on display at the airport for over a year. The parents of the late Sergeant Sapuro B. Nena unveiled the newest addition to the photo display, making total of ten. An official release from the department will be forthcoming.

Sapuro B. Nena's parents unveiling his memorial photo (photo by U.S. Embassy staff)

President Mori placing a flower wreath in honor of fallen Micronesian Heroes

Lt. Governor Marcelo Peterson (Pohnpei), himself a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, giving a welcoming remark...

RDML Tilgham Payne, Commander, U.S. Defense Representative Guam/CNMI/FSM/Palau was also at the Memorial Day gathering.

A view of the Memorial Day gathering from the side of the arrival section of the Pohnpei International Airport. A handful of citizens were there to join families of the fallen heroes, whose wall pictures are visible here, in remembering and paying respect to the high sacrifice made by these ten beloved Micronesians.

FSM State and National Leaders endorse investment facilitation recommendations

Dept. of Resources & Development (May 27, 2013): The 6th FSM State and National Leadership Conference (SNLC)  that took place on May 10th endorsed the recommendations arising from the Symposium on investment facilitation in the FSM, which was held on May 06-09, 2013 at the COM-FSM Gymnasium.

States and National Leaders noted with concern the areas of ease of doing business where the FSM needs to exert more efforts to enhance all-around business climate. These areas include the protection of investors, registration of properties, enforcing contracts, and starting a business. State and National Leaders also noted the critical need to support the local private sector with a view to enhance its capacity to produce competitive goods for both domestic and overseas markets, in line with the National Export Strategy adopted in December 2012 by the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC).

 After thorough review, the State and National Leaders adopted a number of recommendations formulated at the Symposium, in particular, the harmonization of substantive issues in foreign investment regimes across the four States; the development of time standards for State Courts based on the FSM Supreme Court model; the establishment of a one window shop for required documentation processes; the creation of an Investment Promotion Agency within the FSM Department of R&D to handle foreign investment; and the streamlining of the approval process of foreign investment in line with the current 7-day policy for registration of corporations.

In addition, the SNLC considered the need for a better protection of the rich and diversified cumulative body of knowledge, know-how, practices and representations developed and maintained by the people of FSM in interacting with the natural environment throughout history. In the same view, local products which correspond to the FSM and its four States as specific geographical locations or origins also need property rights protection.  In this regard, the SNLC adopted a resolution calling for the development of a comprehensive Intellectual Property Right (IPRs) regime in the FSM to safeguard ownership rights over the traditional knowledge, genetic resources and local products originating from entities within the FSM.

The Symposium was part of a number of on-going initiatives towards right-sizing the public sector, nurturing private sector growth and enhancing investment activities for the overall objective of progressing economic development and building financial stability.

Participants to the Symposium enhanced their knowledge and understanding of investment promotion and facilitation through interacting with resource persons and learning from their presentations of experiences and lessons learned in different places. The resources persons who informed the Symposium included Ambassador George Hara, Special Adviser to the Cabinet, Office of the Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the Alliance Forum Foundation, Mr. Chris Kanazawa, Hawaii State Director, USDA-Rural Development, Mrs. Dianne Masih-Reddy, Senior Manager of Investment Fiji, West Regional Office, representing the Government of Fiji, Ms. Ikuko Matsumoto, Director, Urban Social Development and Public Management Division at the Asian Development Bank and her delegation, Mr. Jonathan Kirkby, Senior Investment Policy Officer, IFC-World Bank Group, and Mr. Joseph Bradley, Senior Vice-President/ Chief Economist & Business Continuity Officer, Bank of Guam.

 President Manny Mori opened the Symposium and, among other things, reminded the participants of the conditions under which the FSM as a whole must press on in forging an acceptable future amid looming challenges. The Symposium would contribute immensely to the FSM’s future-building endeavor.

 The participants at the Symposium came from State and National Governments with many others representing the private sector and non-government organizations, as well as some officials from the FSM Development Bank and the Bank of the FSM.  Additionally, various members of the resident Diplomatic missions and the international organizations based in the country availed themselves throughout the Syposium.

With the Leaders’ endorsement of the recommendations, an NTFC subcommittee on investment facilitation will be established to monitor and assist with implementation progress. 

For further information, please contact the Trade and Investment Division at the FSM Department of R&D at (691) 320-5133 or fsmrd@fsmrd.fm.

President Mori informs State Governors on 2013 HIES Survey throughout FSM

FSMIS (May 27, 2013): The FSM Household Income and Expenditure Survey will be conducted in all the States for a period of one-year, beginning July 11, 2013.

“Unlike the HIES conducted in 2005 where it was carried out over three weeks, this 2013 HIES will be conducted over a period of one year. The main purpose for extending the survey period to one year is to enable capturing of seasonal expenditure. This will provide a more accurate picture of living standard in the FSM”, President Mori states in his May 23 letters to the State Governors.

Apart from revealing income and expenditure distribution, the survey will provide information on home production activities for both goods and services;  nutritional and food consumption patterns; up-to-date data for poverty analysis of FSM households; Consumer Price Index (CPI) re-basing to be comparable with other Insular Areas; and progress in other commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

President Mori seeks the support of the Governors in ensuring their people’s cooperation in bringing about a successful survey for everyone’s benefit.

“As authorized under Public Law 5-77, all information collected through the HIES survey will be kept strictly confidential and shall only be used for statistical purposes.”

For further information, contact Mr. Mathew Chigiyal, Assistant Director for Statistics at the Office of SBOC at 320-2823 or the Manager of the Pohnpei Branch Statistics Office at 320-6590.

President Mori to give the “State of the Nation Message” on May 29

FSMIS (May 27, 2013): President Manny Mori has acknowledged with appreciation Congress’ flexibility in allowing him to present the State of the Nation message during this first regular session of the new Congress. 

“I greatly appreciate your positive response, and your flexibility in accommodating my timing requirements. As such, I have decided I have decided to deliver the State of the Nation message to Congress and our Country this Wednesday, May 29.”

Join efforts by staff from both branches will be mobilized to ensure the general public is provided with live radio broadcast of the President’s address. 

Broadcasts of all the public stations throughout the country are streamed to the internet through FSM Telecom’s http://www.fm/radio.htm for listeners abroad. 

For inquiries, call 320-2548 - email fsmpio@mail.fm or markapito@gmail.com .

Most senior Member of Congress would like "more transparency"

FSMIS (May 24, 2013): During the course of budget hearing today for the three components of the FSM Office of the President, Senator Isaac V. Figir, Chairman of the Congressional Standing Committee on Ways and Means (most senior Member) noted the increase in information outputs by the FSM Public Information Office and indicated his desire that other such offices throughout the National Government follow suit in their role of informing the public.

In a country where daily progressive television, press and other forms of mainstream media are yet to be adequately operational for a number of challenging factors, the public information service arms of government branches and offices  are challenged to be more engaging and productive in light of the shared interest for transparency in service of the People's Right to be well informed.

It must be noted here that some radio coverage on government actions are provided through the public radio stations in the states and a few private stations, such as the Baptist Radio Station in Pohnpei. In many cases, these stations simply air reports made by the personnel at the information offices.
 
[Author's Note: In the Micronesian spirit of humility and respect, the FSM Public Information Office staff wishes to express its Thank-You to Chairman Figir for his statement and the Ways and Means Committee Members for the opportunity to testify as part of the Office of the President.] 

Congress deliberates on a proposed "FSM Chemical Weapons Act"

FSMIS (May 24, 2013): In today's meeting, Congress passed in first reading Congressional Bill No. 18-01 jointly assigned to the Standing Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operation (J&GO) and the Standing Committee on External Affairs (Ex.Aff.).

The bill proposes to create a new Chapter 13 in Title 11 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia,  providing provisions for the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention at the national level.

Part of the J&GO Standing Committee Report No. 18-03 states:

The FSM National Government elected to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. Your Committee thus sees the enforcement of that accord as a necessity. Passage of the legislation is a step in that direction. 

The FSM first elected to join the convention in 1993.

Also according to the report, the FSM Department of Justice "is made the 'National Authority' on chemical weapons", permitting the Secretary of Justice to "cooperate and collaborate with foreign states, international organizations and entities, and foreign authorities" with a requirement that notifications of such cooperation be provided to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The text of the bill is in the link below.

http://fsmcongress.fm/pdf%20documents/18th%20Congress/Bills/CB%2018-01.pdf

The 18th FSM Congress has reached the 13th day of its First Regular Session today with committee hearings well underway on the FY14 Recommended Budget submitted by President Manny Mori last month.

The review of the comprehensive budget for the National Government has to be completed prior to September 30th to allow for a smooth transition into the next fiscal year and prevent breakdown of government services.

For further information, visit the FSM Congress website www.fsmcongress.fm as managed by the FSM Congress Public Information Office.

MV Caroline Voyager delays TC&I and Education trip to the Mortlocks and Northwest regions in Chuuk

FSMIS (May 24, 2013): The MV Caroline Voyager, initially scheduled to leave Pohnpei yesterday on a trip to the islands in the Mortlocks and Northwest in Chuuk State, has been delayed for two days according to Secretary Francis Itimai, Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure (TC&I) in a letter to President Manny Mori earlier today.

The Secretary said cargo off-loading of some three thousand (3,000) copra bags purchased by the FSM Coconut Development Authority (CDA) from Yap during the ship's last voyage (arrived back in Pohnpei about a week ago) was the main reason for the decision to delay.

Off-loading of CDA cargo is normally done by the Federated Shipping Company in Pohnpei.

Secretary Itimai expressed confidence the off-loading work would be completed today.

Apart from providing passenger and cargo service to the Mortlocks and Northwest islands,  the trip will enable the deployment of some staff of the FSM National Department of Education to administer the National Competency Test to selected elementary and high school grade levels in these particular regions.

For further information, contact the FSM Information Office at 320-2548 or email fsmpio@mail.fm.

President Mori back at work, in good health

President Manny Mori arrived Pohnpei on May 15 after taking a few days of medical checkup in the Philippines.

The President has resumed duties and is in good health conditions after availing himself with medical assistance abroad.

The President is expected to report to Congress on the State of the Nation if not toward the closing of the on-going session, then during the next subsequent session.

The on-going session is scheduled to adjourn on May 31, unless extended through resolution of Congress.

Call for Project Concept Papers for Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program

CALL FOR PROJECT CONCEPT PAPERS

GEF-SGP (FSM)

FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS

2013

The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) is accepting Project Concept Papers requesting grant funding for community projects that meet the relevant Country Program Strategy and addresses at least one of the following Environment Focal Areas: 

a)      biodiversity conservation and sustainable use,

b)     climate change mitigation and adaptation,

c)      protection of international waters,

d)     prevention of land degradation/sustainable land management, and

e)      elimination of persistent organic pollutant (POPs).

Eligible Recipients:

a)       Any non-government organization, community-based organization/group, or community in the FSM that is chartered OR if not chartered, have evidence of legitimacy.

Grants:

1. Full Grants are up to US$50,000 (average $20,000) for projects of 1-3 years duration (preferably 2 years).  
2. Planning Grants - proponents may apply for a grant of up to US$2,000 to use in assisting them to develop a full project proposal.  This Planning Grant is subject to approval of Concept Papers.

How to Apply:

1. Contact the Programme Assistant (see address below) to obtain a Project Concept Format, the general criteria, and other relevant documents.
2. Fill out the 3-page Project Concept Paper and submit to the Programme Assistant anytime.
3. If Project Concept Paper is approved, Proponent is then asked to submit a full Proposal.
4. We highly encourage all concept proposals to be submitted electronically as much as possible per concept format.

Project Concept Paper Submission:

Project Proponents can submit Project Concept Papers AT ANY TIME.  Reviews of Concepts are usually done quarterly but can be more frequent depending on number of Concepts received.  Project Concept Papers must be submitted WITH ALL ATTACHMENTS to the appropriate contact below before they can be reviewed.

If you have questions, please contact the following:

Ms. Jo Lynne Gallen

P. O Box 2466

Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941

Telephone Number: (691) 320-4192

E-Mail: jolynneg@unops.org

You may also copy Patterson K. Shed, email: pattersons@unops.org, phone: (691) 320-4192