 FSM Congress News, March 25, 2003PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): March 26, 2003 - Members of Congress are participating in a meeting of the FSM Economic Policy Implementation Council (EPIC) held here in Palikir, March 24-26, 2003. Participants are discussing, among others, the status of the Compact negotiations between the United States and the Federated States, FY 2004 funding for the five governments, the FSM contribution of $30 million for the proposed Trust Funds and distributions formula for Compact II funding. In a statement made by the outgoing Speaker during the opening day of the meeting, Mr. Jack Fritz re-emphasized the need for all levels and branches of government to work together. Speaker Fritz, in his statement, told the story of the five brothers who went fishing and pulled up land from under and argued on the ownership of the land. The five brothers stated their reasons for ownership until the youngest stated that they all should share the ownership of the land otherwise if they divide it, they will end up fighting over boundaries and fighting among themselves. "But if we all share this land, we will continue to cooperate, sharing our own problems and continuing to help each other", the youngest said to his brothers. Speaker Fritz, using the five fingers as an example of working together, was alluding to difficulties arising from the states and the national governments, which should be shared and worked on by all level of governments and their leaders. Only in helping each other can we make any difficulties understood and workable. The next meeting of the EPIC will take place in Kosrae some time in April of 2003. |