April 7, 2014

Vol. 14 Issue No. 10

PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941

KASELEHLIE PRESS
Pohnpei and FSM
Phone 691-320-6547 Kpress@mail.fm

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Cultural day
celebrated in Pohnpei
Pohnpei, FSMThis years Pohnpei and FSM Cultural Day kicked off with a musical competition for youth groups held at the Spanish Wall stage on March 30. On March 31, the official date for the cultural day holiday the celebration lasted all day long. Highlights of the day were the many performances by young people enrolled in the Early Childhood Education programs throughout Pohnpei. They performed in the morning and older aged groups performed during the late afternoon. Governor Ehsa said that this year the Pohnpei State Legislature designated only $1000 for the event and that the community itself had risen to the occasion making this years event one of the best attended and organized in several years. Students from PICS High School also held their own cultural day activities at the Pohnpei Island Central School nahs. The day included a traditional sakau ceremony and performances by the students. Unfortunately, Pohnpeis Office of Social Affairs did not respond to our repeated requests over several days for more detailed information on any of the cultural day events.

INSIDE
Improved Telecom Bill now a law PAGE 2
Bribery charges against Genesis owner and management in RMI

THIS ISSUE OF THE KASELEHLIE PRESS

The last Ka Forest in the world PAGE 10 Senior Associate Justice Supreme Court of the FSM resigns PAGE 11

Photos by Bill Jaynes

PAGE 3

Clearing the Pacific on Lets Go Local Mine Awareness Day Blue Plate Caf Style! PAGE 8 Page 14

More Photos on page 9

The

April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

Improved Telecom Bill now a law

By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press April 3, 2014 Pohnpei, FSMOn April 1 the FSM Congress passed Congressional Bill number 18-145 popularly known as the Telecom Bill. The bill deals with the liberalization of telecommunications services in the FSM primarily by eliminating the legal monopoly that FSM Telecommunications Corporation has held since it was established over 30 years ago, even before the birth of the nation itself. It also establishes an independent regulatory authority, and sets up an Open Access Entity for the purpose of owning assets related to a future fiber optic project connecting Palau, Yap, and Guam, the committee report on the bill says. According to a blog by the FSM Public Information Officer, President Manny Mori signed the bill into law today. For the last seven months the FSM Congress Standing Committee on Transportation and Communication chaired by Senator Peter Christian diligently worked first to understand the original bill submitted by the Executive Branch, and then to make it better for all of the involved parties. After all of the hearings both public and private and the fact finding missions that took the committee to Palau, Washington D.C., and elsewhere in the United States, as well as an important hearing at the Yap Legislature in February, the committee was able to recommend the passage of a new Telecom Bill. Your committee understands that this bill was the result of extensive discussion between TC&I and Telecom, the committee report says. These discussions were mandated by your committee in light of the opposition of Telecom to the previous C.B. No. 18-77 (the bill originally submitted by the Executive Branch). It appears that a common ground may have been found. The committee report said that part of the impetus for the bill was the possibility of a World Bank grant of $27 million to connect Yap to a proposed Palau-Guam fiber optic cable. One of the conditions of the grant was the participation of more than one country. There were questions about the progress of Palau on the project but the committee said that the consideration of the Telecom Bill is first and foremost a domestic matter. It said that the bill should be passed because it is in the best interest of the FSM to do so, not depending on what a sister country may or may not be doing. The report said that the World Bank had also offered a Country Allocation of $13 million just for the FSM for a total grant of approximately $40 million. Unlike the originally submitted bill that the Kaselehlie Press thoroughly reviewed after its submission last year, the new bill does not attempt to restructure Telecom by altering its shares structure or its Board of Directors, the committee report says. Under the new law, The Open-Access Entity will now be owned by the National Government as represented by the Secretary of Finance and Administration. In the CB 18-77 the owners were the Secretary of Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure and the Secretary of Finance and Administration. According to the committee report, the changes in the new law also dealt with a significant problem in the previously submitted bill, that of cross-subsidization of markets. The witnesses testified that the bill envision(s) an Open-Access Policy whereby in those markets where there will be competition market mechanisms will dictate pricing; however, in those place where it is unlikely that there will be more than one entity, such as small islands or remote locations, the dominant provider will be subject to regulation by the Regulatory Authority as far as rates are concerned, the committee report said. It is envisioned that initially rates will be the same across the country but that may change if more companies enter the

market, creating competition and creating a downward pressure on the rates. The committee said that it will not shy away from offering amendments or even repeal(ing) this law should in practice the regulatory scheme turn out not to be satisfactory, that is to bring about better and more cost-effective telecommunications services to the country. The committee said that it was in favor of passing the bill but also expressed its understanding that the law is just the first step in a long and involved process involving extensive consultation among several countries and donors. The committee report adopted by Congress put in writing its disappointment with the fact that the Executive Branch had been dealing with the World Bank for about three years and only brought Congress in to the process last September. A lot of the policy decisions envisioned by this bill would have benefitted from earlier consultation with Congress, which would have made this whole process smoother. A World Bank spokesperson who visited the Kaselehlie Press office earlier this year said that World Bank did not approach the FSM with a grant offer. The FSM approached the World Bank asking what it could do to help with its telecommunications infrastructure needs. The grants were available but it could not give the grants for the benefit of a single telecommunications operator. She said that the World Bank never lobbies for changes of law in any member country in order to give those countries a grant and it didnt do so in the FSM. She said then that if Congress did not pass the bill to abolish the Telecom monopoly there was another grant FSM only grant for power stabilization in the FSM that it had discussed with the Executive Branch, but the regional grant of $27 million would not have been available.

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April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

International Air and Surface search for overdue skiff from Chuuk
US Coast Guard March 26, 2014 Chuuk, FSM The 19 foot skiff with two persons aboard that was reported overdue 13 days ago from Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) was located near Satawal, Yap State on March 25, 2014. Locals from the island of Satawal spotted a vessel with one person aboard drifting one nautical mile offshore and launched a vessel to assist. They quickly determined the vessel was the missing 19 foot skiff and immediately rendered assistance to the 50 year old survivor. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam was notified of the rescue via PanPacific Education and Communication Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) Guam. PEACESAT provides public service satellite telecommunications to remote islands throughout the Pacific. The survivor is fatigued, but in good health. The second man reportedly jumped overboard a week earlier, a few days after the vessel became disabled and adrift. Officials from FSM are arranging to transport the survivor back to his home in Chuuk State. Satawal is approximately 302 nautical miles west of where the vessel became disabled in Chuuk State. Multiple resources from FSM, Australia the U.S. and commercial mariners conducted searches for the overdue vessel, which departed from Chuuk on March 13. The resources included five Good Samaritan commercial ships, one U.S. Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Barbers Point, Hawaii, one U.S. Navy P-3 aircraft from Okinawa, Japan, one Australian P-3 aircraft, and the Patrol Boat FSS Micronesia from Pohnpei, FSM. A total of 5300 square nautical miles were covered during the search.

Bribery charges against Genesis owner and management in RMI

By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press and Giff Johnson with permission of the Marshall Islands Journal April 2, 2014 Majuro, RMIOn March 20, Marshall Islands Attorney General Jack Jorbon filed 52 criminal charges against the owner and the manager of Genesis Island Enterprises RMI according to an article in the Marshall Islands Journal (MIJ) that was published on March 28. The charges allege that Owner Herminio Alfonso, and Manager Ariane Jay Demayo bribed Majuro hospital officials on multiple occasions in order to win bids for medical equipment, supplies, and maintenance. The MIJ article said that charges against implicated Marshall Islands government workers allegedly involved in the scheme will be filed in the coming weeks. On April 3 the Attorney General made good on that promise and filed 90 criminal counts against RMI government workers. Alfonso and Demayo were both charged with 52 criminal counts13 each of bribery, theft by deception, securing execution of documents by deception, and criminal conspiracy. Alfonso is also the owner of Genesis Hospital in Pohnpei. When asked for a statement on the charges, Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso responded by email on her husbands behalf. We are in a situation where we cannot disclose all the facts right now. Our legal counsel in RMI is dealing with the matter. It is obvious to us that we have been unwittingly victimized in an intricate web of shocking deceit that our names and business (have been) used as a mean(s) to someones own ends. Some information is just coming to light on our end to help us understand what hit us. We maintain innocence in all this and intend to see this through. Of the two charged men, Demayo was present at the initial hearing on March 21 before Chief Justice Carl Ingram. During the hearing Ingram ordered Demayo to hand over his passport to the Clerk of Courts. The MIJ article said, The charges list 13 instances between June 26, 2012 and June 26, 2013 when Genesis staff are said to have paid bribes ranging from $500 to $5,000 to associate hospital administrator Francis Silk in exchange for him using his influence to steer bids toward Genesis by communicating confidential information to Demayo, usually by email, regarding potential MOH (Marshall Islands Office of Health) orders, and Genesis in turn would provide a padded price quotation for the needed item, the MIJ article quoted from the charging documents. Silk also aided Genesis by using his influence as associate hospital administrator to recommend sole sourcing to Genesis and not provide an adequate number of price quotations from other vendors. The MIJ article continued, Financial documents from Genesis that are included as evidence with the charges against Alfonso and Demayo include a check register that lists payments to people under the headings, incentives to Dr. Eleuterio Magtangob, or Sir Francis incentive, or activity for Sir Baines. A Genesis "profit and loss" statement for 2013, included as AG's evidence exhibit number two, lists nine individuals receiving over $93,000 as incentives in 2013. The 52 charges against Alfonso and Demayo allege that Genesis bribes were used to accomplish orders from the hospital for x-ray films and numerous laboratory supplies and equipment, the article continues. One of the alleged bribes was for a maintenance contract. But the AG in his court papers stated: although the cont(r)act was paid in full, the CT scan was not properly working. The charges say the Genesis pair deceived other health officials who signed on purchase requisitions to believe the documents were legitimate and urgently needed. The preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for April 3. If Chief Justice Ingram finds good cause to move to trial, Alfonso and Demayo will be asked to enter pleas of guilty or not guilty at that time.

Chuukese woman awarded the Next Generation Youth Leadership Award

Tumon Bay, GUAM On April 1st 2014, Payuta Inc., (umbrella organization for non profit organizations in Guam) at its 4th Non Profit Congress, awarded the Next Generation Youth Leadership Award to Ms. Nedine Songeni, a young Chuukese woman working for the Humanities Council in Guam. The Congress was held at the Westin Hotel in Guam. In attendance at the conference were other non profit partners from Marshall Islands (ALson Kelen), Kosrae (AG Johnson-Asher), Pohnpei (Pohnpei Womens Council), Chuuk (Cindy Mori of Chuuk Chamber of Commerce) Yap (Yap Womens Association and WAAGEY), Palau (Anne Singeo) and CNMI. Huge congratulations go to Ms. Songeni who showed that Chuukese in Guam are law abiding and productive members of the community.

Serving the islands and abroad since 1980! Providing your domestic and international flight arrangements. Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
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There to witness the award ceremony were the AG of Kosrae State, Ms. Lorrie JohnsonAsher, Pohnpei Womens Council Legal Advisor Marstella E. Jack, Ms. Songeni and Emele Duituturaga of the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO).

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April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

7th Anniversary of the JICA Alumni Association of the FSM

JICA The Annual General Meeting for JICA Alumni Association of the FSM (JAAFSM) to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of the establishment of the association took place on March 27, 2014, at Mangrove Bay. The meeting was attended by Mr. Ihlen Joseph-IsoNaniken of Uh, Honorable Lorin Robert-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Eiichi Suzuki-Ambassador of Japan to the FSM, JICA Resident Representative, and Mr. Moses PrestrickJAA-FSM President, in addition to board of directors and ex-participants of JICA trainings. In his opening address, Mr. Kaoru IwasakiResident Representative of JICA, stated that he is pleased to see theJAA executives from each of the four FSM States present at the meeting-an indication of the success in the establishment of JAA-FSM which would contribute to the advancement of bilateral ties between Japan and FSM. He also reassured JAA-FSM that JICA will continue to provide as much support as possible for its activities. The formerPresident of the associationMoses Pretrick, presented the JAA-FSM logo and reviewed its history. JAA-FSM was established in 2006 in Pohnpei as a non-profit corporation with the purpose to (1) gather and create friendship among all JICA Alumni and those who studied in Japan and JICA volunteers within and outside of the FSM, (2) develop relationships between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the alumni with the frames of the Official Development Assistance Program of Japan; and, (3) support economic, culture, scientific and technical cooperation between the FSM and Japan. Hon. Robert made a comment about Kizuna-the bonds of solidarity between friends- and stated that as gift to the people of Japan, FSM presented two coconut fiber ropes symbolizing the Kizuna between the two governments, and expressed his appreciation. IsoNaniken Joseph shared his experience in Japan when he attended the Grant Aid Seminar in Tokyo as Assistant Secretary for the Department of Finance in 1988 and expressed his appreciation for JICA training programs. It was also during this meeting that the next executive members of the JAA-FSM were elected. Mr. Simpson AbrahamPresident of JAA-Kosrae, was elected as the President, Mr. BermanceAldis from Pohnpei as Vice President, Ms. Maelynn Edwin-Secretary of JAA-Yap, as Secretary, and Mr. Charles Sakios- JICA Administrative Officer, as Treasurer.

FSM PMU says report on Weno road contract flawed

By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press April 2, 2014 Pohnpei, FSMAn article in the Marshall Islands Journal (MIJ) proclaims, PII found blameless in Chuuk project snafu. The headline and the article comes from a report by J.M. Robertson Inc. commissioned by Century Insurance Incorporated, the company that issued a surety bond for Pacific International, Inc. the construction company based in the Marshall Islands that had been hired for the Weno Road project in Chuuk. But the FSMs Project Management Unit says the Robertson report is seriously flawed and has demanded its retraction. In a letter to Engineering Consultant John M. Robertson dated April 1, Bruce Howell, PMUs contracting officer demanded that Robertson retract the report by April 10 or the PMU shall take further appropriate action with the Guam Board of Registration PEALS. PEALS is the Guam Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors which issues professional standards and regulates the industries. FSMs Project Management Unit terminated PIIs contract for the road project on November 7 and on November 12, the Owner Tendered completion of the Contract work to the surety, Century Insurance Company. In mid-February, 2014, the attorney acting on behalf of Century Insurance engaged the services of J.M. Robertson Inc. to conduct an investigation to determine what liability, if any, Century Insurance Company bore for completion on the Contract Work, the Robertson report says. After the KPress deadline we received a copy of Mr. Robertsons response to PMUs letter. The report is well documented as factual reporting of the circumstances surrounding the wrongful termination by the PMU of the construction Contract for the Weno Road project, his letter says. It will stand on its own and will stand up against any complaint before the Guam PEALS-board or any other tribunal having competent jurisdiction. The MIJ article on the report says that J.M. Robertson, Incorporated, a Texas engineering firm was hired to conduct an independent engineering review of the Weno road construction project. Since this report was commissioned and paid for by Century Insurance Company it cannot be referred to by the author or others as an independent report, the legal counsel for the FSMs PMU wrote in an email dated March 24 to the legal counsel of Century Insurance.

See PII on page 11

The

April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

National Steering Committee and State Focal Point Meeting in Tofol, Kosrae
GEF Small Grants Program Well known for her iconic Sleeping Lady figure landscape, warm hospitality, white sandy beaches and home to the last remaining Terminalia forest in the world the FSM Small Grants Programme embarked on the State of Kosrae. On March 15-17, 2014, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme-FSM (GEF SGP) convened its annual country level National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting at the College of MicronesiaFSM Kosrae State Campus Small Business Development Center conference room. The two days meeting marked the first meeting of the Programme held in Kosrae State. The meeting reaffirmed the Programmes commitment to continue and enhance its grant making support to all FSM NGOs, and Community-Based Organizations to access the available GEF resources within the country. Through funding allocations from the GEF, the SGP FSM Programme committed to an ambitious goal to grant $1.1 million USD in 2014 to provide support to community driven projects that directly mitigate threats to the FSM environment and support community empowerment and sustainable livelihoods development. In addition to the meeting, the Programme staff and the NSC had the opportunity to pay courtesy visit on Governor Lyndon Jackson to provide information on the Programme and to encourage Kosrae State support to NGOs and CBOs operating in Kosrae to be able to access SGP support and design innovative projects in line with the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) with specific deliverables in each of the GEF focal areas namely: biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, sustainable land and forest management, as well as elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). A number of direct stakeholder engagements and one community proposal writing and project design development workshop were carried out focused on requisite criteria for support from the SGP to NGOs and CBOs in Kosrae. At this meeting the NSC reviewed a number of projects from NGOs and CBOs and approved at least $149,950.00 USD in support of these community projects. The NSC also visited Tafunsak community to witness first hand a mangrove replanting project by the Kosrae Women Association (KWA) in response to the mangrove cutting problem in Kosrae. The SGP Programme staff and NSC thereafter linked up with the 4th FSM Environment Conference also held in

Australian Awards Pacific S c h o l a r s h i p (AAPS)

Kosrae from 19-21 March. The SGP National Coordinator Mr. Patterson K. Shed and two SGP grantees (KWA and Yela organizations) working in Kosrae were given the opportunity to highlight SGP work to date through presentation at the conference. The SGP is a funding modality of the GEF, approved by the GEF Council on a replenishment basis and implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF partnership. Within parameters established by the GEF council, the Programme seeks to provide maximum country, and community-level ownership. As a global Programme, the SGP brings together over 125 country programmes across world regions. Within the FSM, the Programme is hosted by the United Nations Joint Presence Initiative office (UN JPI) located on Kaselehlie Street in Pohnpei. We will be glad to further assist interested FSM NGOs, CBOs and communities on questions concerning the SGP grants. Feel free to call the FSM SGP office at: 320-4192 or by e-mail at: jolynneg@unops.org.

Intake Year 2015

Opening Date: Closing Date:

01 February 2014 30 April 2014

Eligible citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau and Republic of the Marshall Islands are invited to apply for awards commencing in January 2015 for full time undergraduate and post-graduate study in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Samoa. Awards cover tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and airfares

To be eligible to apply students must:

Have completed an Associate Degree or equivalent, or due to complete by June 2014 with minimum GPA of 2.8, OR Be over 25 years old with High School GPA 2.8 or above and have a minimum of 5 years work experience related to thefield of study.

Students just finishing High School are NOT eligible.

Applications are available at: the Australian Embassy website www.fsm.embassy.gov.au

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WILL BE RELEASED ON: April 21, 2014

THE NEXT ISSUE OF

If you have any questions please contact Joyce Gehr at joyce.gehr@dfat.gov.au or +691 320-5448 ext. 110

All completed applications should be submitted online unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevent the applicant from doing so or if applying to Fiji School of Nursing or Fiji School of Technology. Applications are due by the 30th of April 2014.

Deadline for submission of articles or advertisements for this issue is the end of working hours on: Wednesday, April 16th

The

April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

Yap Delegation to Congress reached out to citizens residing in Hawaii

FSM Congress News Colonia, Yap. March 24, 2014 On March 15, 2014, Senator Joseph J. Urusemal and Senator Isaac V. Figir of the Yap Congressional Delegation Office completed an outreach initiative with FSM citizens, primarily targeting Yapese, residing in various communities in the US State of Hawaii. This is part of the Offices ongoing effort to educate citizens abroad on Congressional efforts in addressing challenges faced by the nation, and on initiating citizen involvement to unite with their States and National governments to tackle these issues. Similar initiatives were carried out in Yap, Pohnpei, and Guam in previous months. Of primary discussions were concerns revolving around the FSMs economy and the abilities of the governments to sustain its operations. This is a major concern as 2023 is nearing when the financial assistance to the FSM under the amended Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States is scheduled to end. When asked who will come to the aid of the FSM after the termination of the financial assistance, the Senators response was first, we must ask, what we, as a people, can do to help ourselves. The Senators were alluding to a point that the FSM governments have since independence been heavily dependent on foreign aid, and the people have also become too dependent on their governments for subsidies and other services that can be privatized. In line with this, both Senators appealed to the participants to change attitudes of dependency, and to take action by considering ways in which they can contribute to their governments efforts toward self-sustainability and sustainable economic growth. The Senators emphasized on the old proverb that where theres a will, theres a way. Including other success stories of Yapese residing abroad, the Senators motivated the participants by sharing the success of Mr. Joe Gimen who resides in Hilo. Mr. Gimen, who despite his paraplegic condition from the neck down, through mere determination and willingness to succeed, manages to train others, design and sell handicraft souvenirs focusing on promoting tourism in Yap. Such individual efforts do not have to be grave, the Senators suggested. It could be through contribution to the development of the private sector and investments in the FSM, remittance, professional or technical expertise or ideas to the government, or mere active involvement in civic and government affairs, including seeking assistance from the National and State election offices for active participation in the political process of voting for leaders and any possible referendums in the upcoming State election in November 2014 and National election in March 2015. On government initiatives, the Senators shared the Presidents efforts, and the creation of the 2023 Planning Committee involving the four State Governors working on ways to address issues of the economy and the financial stability of the nation. They also reported on recent Congressional measures aimed to address this issue, including a recent law reducing the FSM National Governments share of the compact funds from 10% to 5%, and redistributing the 5% over the four States. Recent Congressional appropriations aimed to assist the FSM governments in dealing with dwindling compact funds for government operations were also reported. In particular, the Senators encouraged the many students in attendance to utilize their scholarship awards effectively and to aim to obtain [their] degrees faster in light of the decreasing scholarship funds under the compact. To assist with the decreasing scholarship funds, Congress appropriated over $1 million in National Scholarship this fiscal year, including over $100,000 in scholarship for striving Yapese students in colleges and universities using social program funds earmarked for Yap. Although the compact funds for fiscal operations are dwindling into 2023, the set aside compact funds into the Compact Trust Fund is subsequently being increased. Despite the initiative, some have estimated that the Compact Trust Fund will be $600 million short of that goal by 2023. Congress continues to pour local revenue into the FSMs own Trust fund including a recent $7 million this fiscal year. Congress have also enacted a new law creating sub-accounts in the FSM Trust Fund for each State, should a State decide to contribute to its sub-account. On law reforms, the Senators reported that the implementation of the reformed FSM tax laws is pending subscription of two more States. Yap, being one of the two States, has not changed its tax laws because of a Constitutional conflict. We hope that all four states subscribe to the tax reform laws, stated one of the Senators. Aside from issues surrounding the FSMs economy, another area of particular interest to the groups involves immigration to the United States. On this, the Senators encouraged all FSM citizens, Yapese or not, to promote positive Micronesian image while residing abroad and to subscribe to the laws and cultures of the communities which they reside. The Senators further added that this is not only for surpassing the negative Micronesian stereotypes, but also for those future Micronesians who wish to utilize this right and opportunity for employment and education in the United States. The outreach initiative involved a combined 200 plus Yapese in various communities across Hawaii. A significant number of the attendees were students, but the groups also included young professionals, successful entrepreneurs, veterans, seasonal laborers, etc. In a letter of appreciation after the meetings, Chairman Urusemal commented that he and Chairman Figir were remarkably impressed with the educational and professional accomplishments of the general Yapese population in Hawaii. In congratulating them, the Chairman pleaded to the citizens to continue to promote such highly positive impression of Micronesians, and encouraged their active involvement in the civic and governmental affairs of Yap and the FSM. This meeting marks the secondopen consultation the Senators have had with constituents outside the FSM in their quest to keep the public informed and engaged in government affairs. For more information or questions on the works of Congress, please visit www. fsmcongress.fm.

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April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press
BANK OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Statements of Comprehensive Income Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012

2013
Interest Income: Loans Investment securities and due from banks Federal funds sold Total interest income Interest expense: Savings Time deposits, $1000,000 and over Other time deposits Total interest expense Net interest income Cash and Cash equivalents Interest bearing deposits in banks Short-term investment in money Market funds Securities available for sale Loans, net of allowance for loan losses Accrued Interest Receivable Premises and equipment, net Prepaid expenses and other assets 37,609,741 7,136,000 2,988 21,521,459 42,493,400 266,961 2,620,467 507,495 $ 112,158,511 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Deposit Noninterest-bearing Interest-bearing Total deposits Accrued interest payable Accrued expenses and other liabilities Total Liabilities $21,485,217 71,522,965 93,008,182 37,206 872,380 93,917,768 $27,897,153 56,973,498 84,870,651 31,343 670,767 85,572,761 30,920,321 Provision for loan losses 7,910,000 737,374 19,761,625 41,210,085 405,939 2,826,678 408,489 $ 104,180,511 Non Interest Expenses: Salaries and wages Occupancy Professional Fees Employee benefits Furniture and equipment Data processing Correspondent bank fees Gross receipts and use taxes Telephone Travel Director and Shareholder Electronic banking Stationary and supplies Insurance FDIC deposit insurance Credit and collection Business development Postage Tellers and operating losses Miscellaneous Total non-interest expenses Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $5 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; 934,348 shares issued and outstanding Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Total stockholders' equity 4,671,740 4,663,576 9,552,093 (646,666) 18,240,743 $112,158,511 4,671,740 4,663,576 9,003,520 268,914 18,607,750 $104,180,511 Other comprehensive loss: Net unrealized loss on investment securitites (915,580) 436,532 Net Income 1,621,242 373,045 305,760 302,128 253,425 227,696 168,549 166,637 154,750 111,025 99,737 95,916 72,083 66,068 44,340 18,517 17,427 13,831 4,321 31,683 4,148,180 1,352,112 Non-interest income Loan fee income Service charges on deposit accounts Other Total non-interest income 186,659 195,460 428,165 810,284 Net interest income, after loan losses 40,000 4,690,008 $ 4,401,713 557,761 5,934 4,965,408

2012
$ 4,777,530 568,918 5,688 5,352,136

BANK OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Statements of Condition December 31, 2013 and 2012

ASSETS
Cash and due from banks Federal funds sold Interest bearing deposits in banks $

2013
4,356,306 715,000 32,538,435 $

2012
5,631,960 1,955,000 23,333,361

126,189 76,858 32,353 235,400 4,730,008

129,457 92,428 36,889 258,774 5,093,362 20,000 5,073,362

243,394 205,163 316,388 764,945

1,673,011 379,225 198,112 314,283 303,141 230,258 165,667 144,502 186,018 129,340 74,129 39,524 146,000 66,504 82,518 20,585 29,030 13,681 12,404 28,187 4,236,119 1,602,188

Commitments and contingencies

-(340,294) 1,261,894

The

April 7 - 20, 2014

Kaselehlie Press

Clearing the Pacific on Mine Awareness Day

By Dr Terry Beven, Australian Ambassador to Federated States of Micronesia Seven decades since the end of World War II, explosive remnants of war continue to impact on the lives of Pacific islanders. They pose a threat to the lives of people in the region, and are a barrier to development and economic growth. A lot of work still remains to be doneto safely clearing this ordnance. However International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is an opportune time to reflect on the significant progress that has already been made. Last month, the team from the non-government organisation, Cleared Ground Demining located and removed their 30,000thitem of explosive ordnance from Palau. Cleared Ground Demininghas been operating in Palau for more than four years and hassuccessfully cleared hand grenades, torpedoes, mortars and rockets from the country. The organisations current operations are entirely funded by Australia, and were proud to be able to support this work. Each individual item of ordnancethat has been removed tells an impressive story about improved safety, improved access to services and improved quality of life for the people of Palau. The removal of 58 items of ordnance on PeleliuIsland, for instance, cleared the surface route for a new water pipeline. This will protect the safety of construction workers and ultimately bring clean drinking water to households. Part of this land will also be returned to its original use of growing tapioca, thus benefitting local famers.

Australia is supporting Cleared Ground Demining to remove explosive remnants of war in Palau.

A further 19 items of ordnancewere located in the vicinity of the PeleliuMedical Clinic, allowing for safer passage for people to receive medical treatment. And 53 items have been cleared from a popular recreational area at Scarlet Beach, improving safety for locals and tourists alike. But Palau is just one of nine Pacific island countries contaminated by explosive remnants of war. The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands,Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are all also affected. Last year an Australia-funded Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training School opened on Peleliu Island to help address this threat. The school is run by Cleared Ground Demining and is training Pacific organisations and law enforcement authorities to safely identify and remove explosive remnants of war. Cleared Ground Demining carried out their first Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level 1 course last year. Ten of Cleared Ground Deminings national staff completed the course and now have the skills to locate, excavate and identify explosive ordnance, and determine whether theyare safe to move. The school will adopt a broader regional focus this year. Police from Kiribati have been invited tobe the first international participants. The violence of war does not always end when the fighting stops. Seventy years on, Pacific populations continue to be threatened by explosive remnants from World War II. But the strides made so far have been substantial. Today, on Mine Awareness Day, I am proud of what Australia has been able to achieve along with our partners to better the lives of communities across the region.

Pohnpei Office Manager

MRAG Asia Pacific is seeking to employ an Office Manager in its Pohnpei Office.
MRAG Asia Pacific is an independent consulting company dedicated to the responsible use of aquatic resources, specialising in fisheries. We are part of the global MRAG group which employs over 40 aquatic resource specialists worldwide. Our work focuses on providing professional advice and technical services to support the sustainable management of fisheries resources. The successful applicant will work as part of a small, growing team. The main duties of the position will be to manage the day-to-day administration of the Pohnpei Office, as well as provide support to MRAGs regional projects.This will include: Managing the day to day affairs of the Office to ensure the office remains an effective working environment; Coordinating MRAG APs compliance with regulatory obligations in FSM; Coordinating payments for local goods and services consistent with relevant expenditure limits; Coordinating relevant local insurances required for the Office; Coordinating security arrangements for the office; Assisting with and support MRAG AP projects coordinated through the Pohnpei Office. Applicants for the position must have strong knowledge of FSM company administrative and regulatory obligations, and ideally, previous experience in the management of commercial or Government offices in Pohnpei. Knowledge of the fisheries sector would also be an advantage. Applicants must have strong interpersonal, written and oral communications skills, as well as excellent personal integrity and a strong work ethic. Applicants should submit a cover letter providing an overview of their suitability for the position, as well as a CV outlining previous work history, relevant skills, qualifications and experience. Salary will be negotiated with the successful applicant based on skills and experience. Applications should be submitted to dsouter@mragasiapacific.com.au and received by close of business Thursday 17th April. For further information about this position, please contact Scott Christensen on 320-8653 or Duncan Souter on dsouter@mragasiapacific.com.au. Further information on MRAG Asia Pacific can be found at www.mragasiapacific.com.au.

Veterinary Services will be available in Pohnpei on the following dates:

Wed April 23
(Through and including Sunday April 28)

Office hours: Wed 4/23 > only by appointment Th 4/24 > 9 - 5 Please bring in all surgeries on this date (we can do surgeries on other days but it makes it easier for us and the pets to do the surgeries on the first day) Fr 4/25 > 9 - 5 Sat 4/26 > 9 - 5 Sun 4/27 > To be determined

July 4 - 6
Pacific Island Veterinary Services - Micronesia (FSM) pacificislandvet@hotmail.co.uk

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Cultural day
celebrated in Pohnpei

Photos by Bill Jaynes

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First conservation easement in the Asia Pacific region protects the last Ka Forest in the world
Landmark land deal in Micronesia paves way for innovative conservation throughout the Pacific
The Nature Conservancy Yela Valley, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia A unique land protection deal will safeguard 78 acres of forested wetland in the Yela Valley on Kosrae, Micronesia. This is what is hoped to be the first deal of what may be a few aimed to preserve the 1,400-acre valley encompassing the largest stand of Terminaliacarolinensis(ka) trees in the world, several other endemic plant species and the endangered Micronesian pigeon. While conservation easements are relatively common in the United States, this is the first conservation easement outside of the Americas. By bringing a new model of conservation to the Federated States of Micronesia, a local family on Kosrae teamed up with government and conservation groups to protect this biologically rich part of the world. This revolutionaryland deal is also preserving their culture and traditions the forest provides locals with freshwater, fish from the rivers and traditional medicine. The trunk and immense buttresses of the ka tree were traditionally used to make canoes, and the nuts are an edible treat for children. The land will be protected by a conservation easement purchased with a grant provided by the U.S. Forest Service and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation and held by the Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA). Conservation easements, whereby the landowner retains title to the land but agrees not to exercise development and other rights, are being looked at as an extremely promising conservation tool in Micronesiabecause they are an especially good fit in traditional island cultures where usage rights traditionally overlap and forests remain in the family passed down through the generations. This model permits the important conservation area to stay in that ownership while allowingsustainable traditional harvest and use of the natural lands but prohibiting future development and resource exploitation. It is very important for the people of Kosrae to protect the Yela ka forest because it gives the people of Kosrae a sense of pride for having something unique that you cannot find anywhere else, said William William, Project Manager of the Yela Environment Landowners Authority (or Y.E.L.A., an organization formed by the family landowners). The local families sought expertise from The Nature Conservancy to establish a legal conservation framework for their land. However,they have also added their own innovation by opting to use the proceeds from the sale to create anendowment that will ensure the forests long-term conservation. The biggest challenge for Micronesia, as is for many, if not all, Pacific Islands is to sustain conservation programs beyond the injection of foreign grants. said Willy Kostka of the Micronesia Conservation Trust. This easement solves that challenge for the Yela landowners and conservation partners and will serve as a model for the rest of Micronesia and the wider Pacific. Instead of the person or persons who sign the sale agreement solely benefitting from the sale proceeds, as is often the case in the US, the Alik family has invested that income into a trust fund managed by the Micronesia Conservation Trust, said Mike Conner, a senior project director for The Nature Conservancy. Every year after a forest inspection shows the terms of the easement have been upheld, each of the families will receive a payment nearly the average salary on Kosrae now and for future generations. Because development is so intensive in tropical coastal regions, few if any landscapes of the quality and history of the Yela watershed remain in the world. The entire valley is dominated by native and endemic forest, with almost no invasive species; its streams, freshwater wetlands and mangroves are free of the influence of roads, water diversions, paddy agriculture and shrimp farming so common in the Asia-Pacific region. This pristine site is therefore already serving as a natural laboratory for research pertinent to the wider tropical region as well as to global issues. It can also serve the people of Kosrae as a demonstration forest and an ecotourism attraction educating people about the natural services it provides. KIRMA has worked with the landowners to develop a management and monitoring program that allows low impact activities, such as ecotourism and harvesting of medicinal plants, that can be undertaken while protectingand educating visitors about the important conservation values of the property, said Robert H. Jackson, Administrator of KIRMA. The Forest Service is thrilled to be a part of this precedent-setting watershed protection effort ongoing with the Yela watershed project, and the collaboration amongst partners has been exceptional,said Deputy Regional Forester Jeanne Wade Evans. The Forest Legacy program continues to be an important tool to prevent loss of critical forestland to climate change stressors and other uses. By engaging local partners in the use of conservation easements, we hope to further expand these conservation efforts. The Honorable AlikAlik, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia said These conservation projects help meet the goals of the Micronesia Challenge, an ambitious commitment by five Micronesian governments the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to effectively conserve at least 30 percent of the near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020 ultimately to strike a critical balance between the need to use their natural resources today
Photo by Kathleen Friday USDA Forest Service

Photo by the Nature Conservancy

Photo by Kathleen Friday USDA Forest Service

and the need to sustain those resources for future generations. This effort is supported by: The Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority (KIRMA) The Micronesia Conservation Trust The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia The State of Kosrae The Nature Conservancy The Kosrae Conservation and Safety Organization The U.S.D.A. Forest Service The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

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sewing equipment, i.e. Bias Tape Curtains Drapes Fabric Scraps Flat Fabric Gathered Skirts Lace Pieces Lining Materials Needles Pin Cushions Ribbon Ric Rac Scissors Sewing Baskets/Boxes Sewing Machine Needles Straight Pins Tape Measures Thimbles Thread Transparent Tape The Ayuda Foundation declares a success for its First Annual OPERATION SEWING BASKET, a program to provide sewing fabrics and equipment to teach sewing skills to young ladies in Chuuk. More than 30 boxes of fabrics, lace, ric rac, thread, zippers, needles, thimbles, thread, pins, instruction books, quilting magazines, etc. were donated during the quilting exhibition. All of the boxed items will be carried to Chuuk via Matson Navigation Inc. thru the courtesy of Triple B freight forwarding company. Neither company will assess charges to either the Ayuda Foundation nor to the Chuuk Womens Council; all items will be donated without charge to the end users.

11

Operation Sewing Basket

The Ayuda Foundation had a table at the recent Guam Quilt Show, held Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Guam Shopping Center where donors could deliver fabrics and sewing notions. The donations, more than 30 boxes, will be delivered to Chuuks Womens Council. Chuuk State is grappling with a high birth rate and low school attendance. Chuuks political and social leaders wish to teach ladies skills that will increase their earning ability, broaden their learning skills and enable them to lift themselves and their families above the poverty level, to become business owners, to become taxpayers, to become thoughtful voters and to become leaders in their own community. Kiki Stinnet, President of the Chuuk Womens Council, has received a grant to purchase sewing machines, has a building to house the training, but materials and fabric are so expensive in FSM that she has requested The Ayuda Foundation to gather excess fabrics and

Jennie Leon Guerrero, Special Projects manager for Ayuda Foundation showcases samples of donated goods to Operation Sewing Basket.

For additional details or interviews, please contact Ayuda Special Projects Manager, Jennie Leon Guerrero at 671473-3003 or leonguerrerojennie@yahoo.com

Honorable Dennis K. Yamase, Senior Associate Justice Supreme Court of the FSM resigns
Supreme Court of the FSM The Honorable Dennis K. Yamase, Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia, has officially submitted his resignation to be effective April 18, 2014. The main reason for his leaving is to help in the care of his elderly parents in Hawai'i. Associate Justice Yamase was nominated by President Leo A. Falcam on April 9, 2002 and confirmed by the FSM Congress on June 25, 2002. He has also served as a temporary judge on the Chuuk State Supreme Court handling both trial and appellate division cases and has assisted that court in reducing its appellate back log. He has served on numerous appellate panels for appeals from the Kosrae State Court trial division. For over the last eleven years, Associate Justice Yamase has played an integral part in the developing jurisprudence of the FSM. He has sat on appeal panels dealing with important first impression constitutional issues on the separation of powers search and seizure, involuntary servitude, due process, equal protection, habeas corpus, double jeopardy, civil rights, the application of custom and tradition, jurisdiction, standing, and others. In the trial division, Associate Justice Yamase has presided over court matters involving multi-million dollar economic and environmental damage awards from vessel groundings, and resulting coral reef damage and oil and hazardous substances spills. He has handled large contractual damages claims, tort cases, admiralty and maritime claims bankruptcy, temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, writs of prohibition, mandamus, and garnishment, disciplinary matters, and other complex civil litigation of all types, as well as numerous issues dealing with the jurisdiction of the FSM Supreme Court and its relationship to the state courts. In the criminal area, Associate Justice Yamase has rendered sentences of imprisonment in dozens of illegal firearms cases for violations of the FSM Weapons Control Act and has presided over high profile criminal matters involving high level government officials. He has handled both civil and criminal matters in fisheries violation cases. He has dealt with criminal law issues dealing with arrest, search and seizure, suppression of evidence, revocation, habeas corpus, human trafficking, and other matters dealing with the constitutional rights of the criminal defendant. Associate Justice Yamase is a 1982 graduate of the University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Law, where he was a member of the law review editorial board. During and following law school he served as an intern, law clerk, and/or attorney for the FSM Supreme Court, FSM Congress, and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau (ROP). His other legal experiences include serving as: the Senior Legislative Counsel, Senate of the Olbiil Era Kelulau (ROP National Congress); the Executive Secretary, ROP National Code Commission; attorney in private law practice in Honolulu, Hawai'i; the Deputy Legislative Counsel and Legislative Counsel, FSM Congress; the Special Legal Counsel to the ROP Vice President/Minister of Administration Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr.; and the Executive Director of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Law Revision Commission (LRC). He has also served as the Legal Counsel to the ROP Transition Commission dealing with transition matters in implementing and funding under the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States. He served as staff to the 3rd FSM Constitutional Convention and meetings of the Asian Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU). Associate Justice Yamase developed the FSM Legal Information System (LIS) website at http://www.fsmlaw.org., as a Consultant to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Improving Access to Laws Project. The FSM LIS is in wide use by legal practitioners as a free legal research website with access to state and national constitutions, codes, court cases, court rules, and many other legal resources. The FSM LIS is a part of the international Free Access to Law Movement (FALM). Associate Justice Yamase has completed or assisted on projects for the following codes of law in the region: the Yap State Code (YSC); the FSM Code (F.S.M.C.); the draft Chuuk State Code (CSC); the ROP National Code (PNC) and ROP National Code Annotated (PNCA); and the Annotated Commonwealth Code for the CNMI (hard copy and CD-ROM formats). Associate Justice Yamase has organized and participated in training programs for the various local, municipal, land, and state court judges throughout the FSM. He is certified as a judicial trainer through the Pacific Judicial Development Programme (PJDP) Training of Trainers (TOT) and Regional Training Team (RTT) programs, he has taken a trainers class at the National Judicial College (NJC), and has a B.Ed. degree in Secondary Education- Psychology from the University of Hawi'i at Manoa. As a member of the Pacific Judicial Development Programme Regional Training Team he has also participated in training judges in various South Pacific jurisdictions. He has taught College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) Trial Counselor Certificate program courses in constitutional law, contracts, and torts while residing in Chuuk. He has conducted numerous workshops, seminars, and training programs for high school students and others, and has participated in the FSM Supreme Court's Law Day programs.

...PII
Continued fom page 4 Initial reaction to the report is that it is unprofessional, filled with unsupported opinions, and contains many false and misleading statements, the same email continued. The report appears to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct for Guam professional engineers and it should not be relied upon by Century Insurance Company without further consideration of the facts, it concludes. As stated in your letter, the investigation was commissioned by the Surety, Century Insurance Company, Robertsons letter in response to the April 1 letter from the PMU demanding retraction of his report says. The instruction given to me by Mr. Steven Pixley, General Coun(sel) for Century Insurance, was to conduct an independent investigation and to let the chips fall where they may. I can say in response to your allegation, that the investigation would have been conducted in the same manner and the report would have read the same whether it was prepared on behalf of the FSM Government, the Chuuk State Government, the PMU, the US DOI Office Office of Insular Affairs, or Century Insurance. PMU says that it has already received one or more bids from contractors who want to finish the road project.

Checkmate or Stalemate?

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The FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), hosted the 3rd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting of the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in the Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM), on February 27, 2014 at the OEEM Conference room from 8 am to 11 am. Invitations were sent to State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Directors, State Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and Public Works Directors, FSM Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure Secretary, FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, PMU Project Manager,

Third Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting

SBOC Director, Japan Embassy staff, and Pohnpei Waste Management staff. The meeting enabled EPA/KIRMA and Public Works Directors to address key outputs and activities implemented in their states during the 3rd year of the J-PRISM program, and propose a way forward. capacity base through implementation of the Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy. In his opening remarks, JCC Chairman Mr. Andrew Yatilman welcomed the participants and noted J-PRISM's assistance to the FSM states in the area of solid waste management. Additionally, JICA Resident Representative Mr. Kaoru Iwasaki expressed his warmest regards to everyone and emphasized the importance of the J-PRISM's program in the area waste management. State EPA/KIRMA and Transportation and Infrastructure/Public Works Directors from Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei,

The Government of Japan responded to eleven Pacific Island Countries (PIC) requests for its support of improved solid waste management in 2009. As a result, FSM is part of this regional technical cooperation project receiving technical assistance in the area of waste collection and disposal and landfill management. The overall goal of J-PRISM is to enhance sustainable management of solid waste in the Pacific region for the purpose of strengthening human and institutional

and Kosrae presented on the current progress of their outputs under the J-PRISM program. Outputs that were addressed pertained to Policy and Strategy, Waste Collection, Waste Disposal, Awareness, and Legislations. A discussion followed the Directors' presentations in which several topics were raised for the Directors to share and exchange their views. Topics such as leachate monitoring, sharing of landfill designs among states, and submission of monitoring action plans were raised during the discussion. Those representing the states included: Yap EPA Director Christina Fillmed and DPW&T Director Vincent Figir; Chuuk EPA Director Ishmael Mihkel, DPW Assistant Director Binasto Ruben; Pohnpei EPA Director Albert Roby, Pohnpei EPA Environment Specialist Charles Lohn, Kosrae EPA Director Robert Jackson, and DT&I/PW Director Weston Luckymis. Since 2011 through J-PRISM's technical assistance, the FSM states have developed solid waste management plans, improved waste collection and disposal systems, improved the management and operation of existing dumpsites, and participated in landfill and waste management techniques trainings in Japan. At the national level, FSM OEEM has finalized a National Solid Waste Management Strategy and is awaiting endorsement. The JCC meeting ended with the closing remarks by Mr. Shiro Amano, Chief Advisor of J-PRISM. As well as praising effort of concerned parties, he told the importance of the waste management, which is an endless issue, as long as people produce waste, to be tackled for the next generation.

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Puzzles

13

Crossword ACROSS 1. Actor Davis 4. ___ Girl Friday (Cary Grant film) 7. Actor Byrnes 10. Actress Ryan 13. ___ About Eve 14. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace boy 15. The Thin Man actress 16. TVs Mrs. Morgenstern 17. Actress Farrow 18. Sister ___ 19. Kilmer who played Batman 20. Henry and June role 21. TVs Green ___ 23. TV series that often uses DNA testing in its plots 25. Our Miss Brooks star 27. Actor Connery 28. Cousin ___ 30. Frasier star 32. Hemsleys TV sitcom 36. Previews, as a film 39. Director Peckinpah 41. You ___ There 42. American Idol host Abdul 43. Enchanted 45. TVs ___ a Living 46. TVs L.A. ___ 49. TVs Diffrent ___

T V

&

M o v i e s !

6. TV laughfests 7. High-flying group of film 8. Edmond OBrien film 9. Actor McDermott 10. A Beautiful ___ 11. Ernies TV partner 12. The Journey of Natty ___ (85 film) 22. Georgia of The Mary Tyler Moore Show 24. The ___ of All Fears 26. Actor in The Crying Game 28. TVs Yan ___ Cook 29. Mad About You role 31. ___ People 33. Actor Hamill 34. That Thing You Do! setting 35. Dick Van Patten role in Mama DOWN 36. TVs ___ City 1. ___ Family 2. Brady Bunch role 37. Actress Blanchett 38. Tim ___ of Star 3. Actress Bow 4. He played the hero Trek: Voyager 40. Actress in Mars Attacks! 5. TVs Models ___ Winningham 51. TVs Empty___ 53. Midler film 55. Tim Robbins, in The Shawshank Redemption 57. Hot Lips Houlihan, on TV 61. Salma Hayek film 64. Actor Olin 65. Actress Dana 66. Actress Ullmann 67. The Facts of Life star 69. Former TV Tarzan 71. ___ Dont Leave (Lange film) 72. Three-faced woman of film 73. Where to see Joe Isuzu 74. Hed say, What EEZ it? 75. Howards (Hopkins film) 76. The ___ We Were 77. Top ___ (Astaire film) 78. PBS TV chef 79. Mrs. Miniver actor

44. Mario Van Peebles film 47. TV network 48. The ___ Link 49. Stage setting 50. ___ Sting 52. Actor Danson 54. Certain movie planet resident 56. Actress Bernhardt 58. What ___ Want 59. Cara of Fame

60. Cronyns frequent costar 61. One ___ Over the Cuckoo s Nest 62. Actress Maria ___m 63. Whos the Boss? actress 65. Actress Redgrave 68. Holly Hunter, in The Piano 70. She played Caroline on TV

K Press Puzzle Pleasure

Your List Goes Here

" Y " Wo r d s
This puzzle is a study of "Y." You should be kept busy finding the 18 4-letter words, 13 5-letter words, and 18 6-letter words for a total of 49 words containing the letter "Y."

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Nutrition

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Embassy of Sweden shows interest in IFCP

By April Turner Island Food Community of Pohnpei On the 24th March, Island Food Community of Pohnpei welcomed Anna Hamrell the First Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden, Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Hamrell had heard of the excellent work of the Lets Go Local campaign from colleagues in Japan and here in Pohnpei. Ms. Hamrell was moved by the Non-Communicable Disease crisis in FSM, with some of the highest global rates of obesity and diabetes, and the recent declaration by the Honorable Governor Ehsa proclaiming action on this health emergency. The work of IFCP in promoting local foods for their health benefits inspired Ms. Hamrell who stated that the work IFCP does is very important indeed.

Lets Go Local - Blue Plate Caf Style! APRIL MENU

Thursday 11:30 am -1 pm April 10th & 24th
Embassy of Sweden First Secretary enjoys an akadahn banana with Chairman Adelino Lorens and Office Manager Mona Tara

Enjoy a local food lunch at the Blue Plate Caf

By April Turner Island Food Community of Pohnpei Every Thursday the Blue Plate Caf at the College of Micronesia FSM Pohnpei campus serves a lunch of innovative local food dishes, drinks and desserts. Coconut tortillas, fish burgers, taro chips, madeu tea, karat pie, karer tik cream cheese tart, and many others were sampled. All were delicious, not to mention, healthy and local! The caf is a teaching restaurant for the hospitality and tourism management program, thus the student waitstaff are well-trained and the food prepared by the students is also nicely presented. Island Food Community of Pohnpei commends and supports the effort of students and teachers to supply healthy, local lunches and we encourage the public to support their work as well.

EASTER SPECIAL: BPC Lasagna $6.50 (Lasagna noodles, fish, eggplant, cheese & house sauce served w/ vegetable salad & garlic toast)

SOUP: Seafood Blend Chowder (Crab & reef fish in lemon grass coconut milk) $3.50 ENTREES: Served w/house salad, choice of steamed rice or local food of the day $6.00 ea. A. Escebeche (Seared fish fillet w/vegetables in a zesty ginger sauce) B. Coconut Chicken Fingers (Crispy baked chicken strips coated w/coconut flakes) SANDWICHES: Served w/house chips & pickles $5.00ea. A. Spicy Tuna Burger (Ground tuna patties w/spicy house sauce) B. Soft Taco BPC Style (Choice of grilled fish fillet or chicken & vegetables wrapped in coconut tortillas) DESSERTS: $3.00 ea. A. Choco Karat Banana Muffins B. BPC Banana Split DRINKS: $1.25 ea A. Chilled Coconut (Uhpw) B. Cinnamon Bark (Madeu) Tea Blend C. Iced Tea D. Coffee

For RESERVATIONS call BPC at 320-3795 or email: blueplate@comfsm.fm

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15

April 25th

20 boats, $1,000 and lots of wet!

Steve Finnen The Pohnpei Fishing Club It was a cold and stormy day. The seas were the color of death. Well it wasnt that bad. It was wet and wild on Saturday, March 22, but luckily there were no lost boats, only a delayed one. The Pohnpei Fishing Club provided the prize money for this tournament, and we had a good turnout. 20 boats registered. A lot of fish and colds were caught. It was impossible to go out without getting drenched at least five times. We are happy this is not the North Pacific. The format for this tournament was simple, the five biggest fish won prize money. This format was a result of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission tournament when 6 marlins were caught. We werent that lucky this tournament but two billfish were landed, and talking to the fishermen, a few got a way. Congratulations to Ferny Perman for taking the tournament with a 116.5 pound marlin. He must know how to fish since apparently he only went out for an hour. The rest of the winners are listed below. Boat Name Hide Away Luhken Sehd Happy Hookers Happy Hookers Pelagic Angler Species Weight Prize 116.5 57.0 45.0 44.5 43.0 $400.00 $300.00 $150.00 $100.00 $ 50.00

Ferny Perman Marlin Steve Finnen Sail Fish Raynard Panuelo Yellowfin Wilmar Aquino Yellowfin Jeff Aingemea Yellowfin

Many thanks to our host, Mangrove Bay, for both the registration and weigh in. The Association of Filipino Ladies in Pohnpei, provided the barbecue to raise money for their Christmas gift giving to the less fortunate on Pohnpei. Hope you supported them. Many thanks to Bill, Paul, Tina, Praise, Jun and Kumers guys, for help at the weigh in. Our next tournament is set for April 26. Thanks to everyone who braved the weather to watch the weigh-in.

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Local photographer attracts donation for family violence victims

Pohnpei Womens Council The Pohnpei Womens Council Center for Research and Empowerment received a donation from Terry Garity of Cedar Park, Texas to help with its shelter for family violence victims. This donation was made possible because of a photograph that was shot by Bill Jaynes portraying Yolanda Joab at the Kepirohi Waterfalls. Joab had volunteered to serve as a model to help Jaynes build his photographic portfolio. When he posted the photos to Facebook, Garity said of the above photo, This is photography as art. I dont know if you are marketing yet, but if you will send me a digital copy that I can enlarge, I will make a donation to one of your island charities. With Joabs permission and agreement Jaynes selected to give the money to the Pohnpei Womens Council Center for Research and plans to frame the photo of Joab at Kepirohi in bamboo. Empowerment Garity is a retired school teacher from the Austin, TX area and is still active in volunteer projects in education. He was Tamme Jaynes fifth grade teacher, one of her favorite teachers. The two reconnected several years ago through the magic of social media. Jaynes said that he is currently researching the possibility of selling prints of his work the proceeds of which will also go to the shelter project of the Pohnpei Womens Council. Wherever and whenever it happens, domestic or family violence hurts everyone, the victims, the perpetrators, and even those who stand quietly by and let it happen. Something has to be done, Jaynes said.

Joab at Kepirohi Waterfalls

Receiving the donation were Secretary to the Council Bernolina Hedson and Legal Advisor Marstella E. Jack with the famed photographer Bill Jaynes. Kalahngan Garity is a talented woodworker and muledek to our donor.

Donations are accepted in any form or manner towards sheltering and counseling of victims of family violence. Contact Lululeen Santos at the Pohnpei State Office of Social Affairs for more details.