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FSM Congress News, May 13, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): May 13, 2004 - Congress postponed plenary session this morning due to lack of quorum as Members concentrated their efforts on committee works.

This morning the Committee on Transportation and Communication continued its public hearings with the Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure.

The hearing concerned the department's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005. The matter of the new ship from the People's Republic of China came up again as Members and witnesses talked ways and means to have a better way of monitoring the activities of the new vessel. Committee members and witnesses agreed that the national government should have a more active role in the management of the new ship unlike the Micro Glass vessels provided to the FSM by the government of Japan.

The Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee also continued conducting public hearings. This morning's hearing concerned the nomination of Mr. Laurence Vetter to the position of Secretary of the Department of Justice.

The questions raised during Mr. Vetter's hearing were aimed at his knowledge of and plans for the amended Compact, how well the nominee knows the amended Compact and the history of the FSM, how he should guide the FSM with regards to the Compact and legal matters concerning the nation.

Mr. Laurence Vetter holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate Degree. He has performed extensive commercial, judiciary reform, and grants management law consultancy work in developed and developing countries before his nomination to the Secretary's post for the Department of Justice for the FSM.

Congress will return to session tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.