First Courtesy Call on President Mori by Peace Corps Director, Dr. Reid

clockwise from left: Mrs. Lynn Pangelinan, US Embassy staff, Ambassador Rosen, Dr. Reid, Mr. Berlino Martin, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, and President Mori

FSMIS (August 27, 2013): On August 26, The President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) welcomed the new Country Director of the United States Peace Corps in the FSM and the Republic of Palau, Dr. Robert Reid, through a courtesy call on the President.

Dr. Reid was accompanied by Ambassador Doria Rosen from the US Embassy in Pohnpei.

In the meeting, President Mori reiterated his appreciation to the Peace Corps for the many years of engagement in social development and other activities aimed at improving life in Micronesia. He also spoke of how the program has helped deepening FSM-US ties and forged productive interactions beyond the official level.

The visit afforded Dr. Reid up-close discussions with the President as the Director has already sunk his hands into his new role in Micronesia where the Peace Corps has brought in over four thousand volunteers since the program started in 1966, serving primarily the educational and health needs in the islands.

Throughout the discussions, President Mori stressed that the program integrate its human resource and technical assistance within its mainstream focus as well as other emergent development priorities with strong impacts on economic development.

left: President Mori, Ambassador Rosen, Dr. Reid

Given his varied background of over forty years of government and non-government capacities, Dr. Reid spoke of his intent to direct the program in activities that fit with the current aspirations of the nation and the communities. He said, volunteers would not be confined to classroom instruction, but engaged in what their communities would require in improving capacities for better living.

Among a number of concerns and focus that were probed, the officials explored possibilities in community small scale agriculture, diverse tourism activities, renewable energy, solid waste management awareness, and the need for integrated planning on synchronizing the more traditional social development responsibilities with time-specific sustainable projects that spur economic growth.

“I am a doer, not a talker”, said Dr. Reid after the President expressed his desire to see in real terms the ideas he has shared in discussions with others over the years.

Dr. Reid has had years of services in different capacities with the Peace Corps and other government and non-government sectors, including services in countries such as Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Jamaica, Tuvalu and Fiji. He also has held an important role with the Habitat for Humanity International where he supervised projects for the regions of the East Europe to East Asia and the Pacific Islands, according to information from the US Embassy in Pohnpei. 

For further information, write fsmpio@mail.fm.