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Weno Road Project Breaks Ground in Chuuk

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): March 31, 2009 - Amidst balloons, dust and the blazing sun, a respectable crowd gathered outside of the FSM Post Office in Chuuk State to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the Weno Road Project, Phase One, on Friday, March 27, 2009. In a short ceremony, with speeches from the Mayor of Weno, Mr. Jesse Florentino, Vice President Alik Alik, and Governor Wesley Simina, the ceremonial start to the largest infrastructure project in FSM history began. This $25 million project comes from an infrastructure grant through the US Compact of Free Association with FSM and has been in the works for some time.

All of the speeches focused on the collaborative effort of the FSM National Government, Chuuk State Government and the people of Weno to make this project possible. Everyone was also especially thankful for Pacific International, Inc. (PII) and its owner, Mr. Jerry Kramer, who was also present at the ceremony, for bidding on this project and committing to its completion. Mr. Kramer spoke after the ceremony to some of the dignitaries and stressed the fact that with an estimated 500 containers worth of supplies coming and 200 to 300 local jobs created for this project, Chuuk will not only benefit by getting a new road and water and sewer lines but also from the income generated from the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of taxes and income that Chuuk and its citizens will receive through the work of this project.

The Manager of the FSM Program Management Unit, Mr. Jack Yakana, was also present today to represent the PMU group of the National Government that did all of the pre-work and contracting for this project to move forward. He looked on as the dignitaries dawned hard hats and hoisted dirt with shovels to provide the "groundbreaking".

According to Mr. Bobby Muller, the Project Manager for PII, the first set of equipment should arrive in Chuuk in June of this year. They have secured their staging ground at the old rock crushing site across from the Kurassa Hotel and will use some space in a building nearby to house their workers and offices. PII now has a physical presence on island and they are looking forward to the beginning of Phase I of the Weno Road Project in Chuuk. Although it will be some time before physical improvements are realized, everyone was still all smiles today because things are definitely moving forward.