Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, May 11, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei May 11, 2004 - Congress Speaker Peter M. Christian addressed the nation yesterday, May 10, on the occasion of the 25th Year Anniversary of the Federated States of Micronesia governs itself under its own constitution. The Speaker, as well as the President, the Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court, the Lt. Governor of the State of Pohnpei, Former FSM President Leo A. Falcam, and Mr. Davidson Syne of the College of Micronesia-FSM Student Body Association, delivered remarks encouraging officials and citizens of the nation to each continue to do his individual part in making the nation a better place for our citizens today and in the future.

Today, the 3rd Regular Session of the 13th Congress convened. After the usual introduction of officials, which included FSM President Urusemal and Vice President Killion, Former President Leo A. Falcam, the Dean and members of the Diplomatic Corps, the nation's own ambassadors who were in the gallery observing the session, members of the cabinet and other officials and citizens, Speaker Christian appointed Vice Speaker Claude H. Phillip to chair the Special Committee to Wait on the President along with the other Delegation Chairmen Isaac Figir of Yap, Dohsis Halbert of Pohnpei and Roosevelt Kansou of Chuuk as the other members of the same committee.

In reflection of the activities and remarks that took place yesterday during the celebration of the 25th Year Anniversary, Speaker Peter Christian instructed that the remarks be made part of today's journal and should be inserted as such in order for citizens to have easy access to re visit those remarks when ever they please to do so.

The following is Speaker Peter Christian's remarks during yesterday's activities in full text:

"IN LIFE - WE MUST PAUSE EVERY SO OFTEN TO TAKE STOCK OF OUR CURRENT STATUES - TO SEE HOW WELL, OR EVEN - HOW POORLY WE HAVE DONE.

NOT ONLY IS THIS WISE - IT IS ALSO OUR DUTY TO DO SO.

FOR IN AND BY SUCH AN EXERCISE CAN WE CLEARLY SEE WHERE WE HAVE TRAVEL FROM - AND SEE IF WE ARE ON COURSE. THIS IS JUST THAT KIND OF MOMENT. WHILE WE PAUSE TODAY TO REFLECT - LET US SEIZE THIS OCCASION TO ALSO RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THE MEN - WHO, WHEN

PRESENTED THE OPPORTUNITY, DID NOT HESTATE, BUT BOLDLY AND DARINGLY LAID DOWN THE FOUNDATION OF GOVERNMENT THEY THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF MICRONESIA.

WE ALSO PAY TRIBUTE, AND A DEEP SENSE OF DEBT TO THESE HONORABLE MEN WHO SERVED AS STEWARDS OF THIS NATION FROM THAT VERY DAY FOR WHICH WE TODAY HONOR. WE KNOW THEY GAVE THEIR BEST.

WHILE WE PAUSE - LET US FIND THE STRENGTHS OF OUR STATUS, AND MAKE THEM STRONGER, AND WHERE THERE IS WEAKNESS, LET US MAKE REPAIRS.

AND LET US, HANDS JOINT, DETERMINE TO RE-COMMIT OUR DEDICATED EFFORT TO THE TASK OF SERVING WELL. AND LET US REINVIGORATE OUR TRUST, AND OUR FAITH IN THIS SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT SO NOBLY CONSTRUCTED AND BOUND TOGETHER BY THE CULTURAL FIBERS OF OUR MICONESIAN HERTAGE AND CIVIL VALUES.

WHILE WE CAN NEVER BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE WELL, WE CAN BE SURE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN SELFISH TO THE TASK.

WE MUST ALSO BE EVER VIGILANT AGAINST SOME WHO SEEK TO OBSCURE OUR VISION AND RESOLVE TO BUILD, AND TO PROMOTE A GOOD, - STRONG, - AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. BY ILL USE OF THEIR GOOD KNOWLEDGE AND HIGH STATUS;

WE MUST GUARD AGAINST THOSE WHO MAY, KNOWINGLY OR OTHERWISE, PLOT TO HUMILATE US BY MAKING MOCKERY OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS.

THERE ARE ALSO A FEW IN THIS NATION WHO WOULD REJOICE AT THE UNBONDING OF OUR UNITY.

IN DEFENSE OF THIS UNITY - AND BEGGING THE PARDON OF THOSE POINT OF VIEW DIFFER FROM MINE - I DECLARE, WITH NO ESITATION, THAT NONE, - NONE OF US - HAVE SHOWN - HOW IN UNITY WE ARE WEAK, - AND DIVIDED WE WILL BECOME STRONG.

AND UNTIL SUCH TIME WHEN A CONVINCING, PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE IS LAID OUT - THIS UNION - AMONG OUR PEOPLE - NOW PROVIDE THE BEST TRANSPORT TO ACHIEVING OUR GOALS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS FEDERATION.

IT IS TEMPTING TO STAND HERE TODAY AND PONTIFICATE ON THE RIGHTS AND THE WRONGS OF GOVERNMENT, TO POINT A FINGER, TO CAST THE PROVERBIAL STONE, AT SOMEONE ELSE. THIS TENDENCY COMES NATURAL TO US MORTAL SOULS - IT IS A TEMPTATION WE MUST RESIST, LESS IN THIS WANTON DESREGARD OF RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE BECOME - DISTRACTED FROM OUR PRINCIPAL FUNCTION AND DUTIES. THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES FOR NATION BUILDING, OUR TASK THEREFORE IS MORE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING.

NEITHER LET US BE SLANDERED FROM OUR DUTY BY FALSE ACCUSATION AGAINST US; NOR FRIGHTENED FROM IT BY MENACES OF DESTRUCTION TO OUR GOVERNMENT; NOR DUNGEONS TO OURSELVES.

LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT AND IN THAT FAITH LET US - TO THE END - DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT."