Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

National Government Officials to Chuuk in support of State Leadership Conference

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): August 16, 2012 - President Manny Mori is in Chuuk since August 12 on an official trip that includes supporting the convening of the Chuuk State Leadership Conference from August 15 to 17.

The President has been vocal in pursuing the need for all governments in the Federated States of Micronesia to progress efforts in establishing their Long Term Fiscal Framework (LTFF) as part of fiscal belt-tightening in general and as a collaborative strategy by all governments in response to Compact funding decrements and post-2023 planning to weigh options beyond Compact dependency, in particular.

The States of Kosrae and Yap have finished their respective conferences where the LTFF issue was tackled, establishing a roadmap for the states to deal with already occurring budgetary decrements under the Compact.

As done for the other states, a number of cabinet level officials and other staff from the National Government are in Chuuk to lend technical and duty-specific support to the leadership conference, including Ms. Evelyn Adolph, Director of the Office of Statistics, Budget and Economic Management, Overseas Development Aid, and Compact Management; Mr. Andrew Yatilman, Director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management; Mrs. Rose Nakanaga, Acting Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration; Mr. Lorin Robert, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs; and others.

The on-going leadership meeting falls in line with President Mori's persuasion as expressed in a July 11 letter to Governor Johnson Elimo:

"I strongly believe that Chuuk State should hold its leadership meeting to finalize its LTFF before the upcoming JEMCO meeting in August", President Mori wrote.

Through phone conversation yesterday with Mr. Churchill Edward, the President's Chief of Staff who is also in Chuuk, Mr. Edward said that the President may also participate at the on-going Catholic Church celebrations that coincide with the leadership meeting.

The Catholic Church in Chuuk this week is concluding the year-long celebration of its 100th year anniversary, including a silver jubilee anniversary commemoration for the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Amando Samo when he was installed bishop of what was then the Diocese of the Caroline and Marshall Islands.

President Mori is due to return to Pohnpei on Friday, August 17.