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FSM Congress News, January 19, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): January 19, 2004 - Today Congress adopted a resolution to discontinue the services provided by retired FSM Supreme Court Justice Richard Benson.

Senator Resio Moses voted against the resolution and Senator Sabino Asor expressed the desire for abstention from voting due to conflict of interest.

The resolution states that a temporary justice appointed by the Chief Justice may be assigned to serve for no more than three months. The resolution further states that Justice Benson has served on multiple matters with cumulative service exceeding three months.

Senator Jack Fritz conveyed appreciation to Mr. Al Stayman and his colleagues from the United States Government for their visit to the FSM after doing a lot of hard work on the amended compact and other important matters for our two countries. Fritz also expressed congratulations to the newly inaugurated officials of the State of Pohnpei. He also made a brief statement about the Chuuk campus of the College of Micronesia and asks officials of the College of Micronesia-FSM to please try to offer the same services to the young men and women of Chuuk that the young men and women from the other three states are enjoying.