Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, July 12, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): July 12, 2003 - The shortest session in the history of the FSM Congress is now being called for. The 1st Special session of the 13th FSM Congress will convene on the 12th of July at 3:30 p.m. in Palikir. The special session will definitely have the two members-elect, Senators-elect Jack Fritz and Ramon Peyal take their oaths of offices as Members of the 13th FSM Congress in time for the inauguration ceremonies, which will take place Monday, July 14. It is envisioned that the session will be the shortest session of the FSM Congress since it took effect in 1975.

Floor Leader Henry C. Asugar has been designated as the Acting Speaker to over see matters needing the attention of the Speaker while Speaker Peter Christian and Vice Speaker Claude Phillip are away from Pohnpei State. Looks like Mr. Ramon Peyal of Yap will be the newest Member of Congress, according to information released from the office of the National Director of Elections.

The information released July 4, from the office stated that Mr. Ramon Peyal and Mr. Jack Fritz won the special elections held in their respective states of Yap and Chuuk.

Until after he took the oath of office of Member of the 13th FSM Congress, Mr. Peyal is the Administrative Officer for the Yap State Congressional Delegation since he started in 1983 as Administrative Assistant. He worked for the Yap State Department of Education as a teacher and the Division of Political Affairs at the Yap State Department of Public Affairs as Political Affairs Officer before he became the Administrative Assistant for the delegation office. He graduated from the Mogmog Elementary School in Ulity in 1963 and graduated from the Ulity Junior High School in 1968. The senator-elect is a 1969 graduate of George Washington High School in Guam who later attended the University of Guam in the same year and went to study for 2 years at the East West Center in Hawaii until 1972. Mr. Peyal defeated former Yap Governor Vincent Figir, Simon Maluelmeng, John Mangefel, Larry Raigetal and Paul Yafwemog who were also eyeing the position left vacant after former senator Joseph J. Urusemal became the 6th president of the FSM.

Mr. Jack Fritz is the former speaker of the FSM Congress and a two year-term representing the Southern Namoneas Region until May 11, 2003 after he lost in the general election in March. He opted to run for the Chuuk's at-large seat and faced off with Vice President Redley Killion and lost to Mr. Killion. Mr. Fritz then challenged former at-large Member Manny Mori who decided not to run for the general election allowing the vice president and the former speaker to fight for the seat he occupied during the 12th Congress. Senator-elect Jack Fritz defeated, other than Mr. Manny Mori, Johnny Meipen and Siwiter Sachuo, and will represent Chuuk State in the four-year seat.

The Committee on Health, Education and Social Affairs (HESA) was in Chuuk the second week of July to conduct public hearings regarding the College of Micronesia-FSM, Chuuk Campus. The committee, headed by its chairman, Senator Resio S. Moses of Pohnpei, is investigating the issues surrounding the campus, which is withholding the whole college from entering into four-year programs and other issues regarding the campus itself.

During previous public hearings, officials of the College of Micronesia-FSM central office told the committee that they have been working closely with other institutions and programs to bring the College's eligibility for four-year programs in order for students to enroll in B.A. degree programs.

The committee came back to Pohnpei on Wednesday, July 9, to prepare for the inauguration slated for Monday, July 14.