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2009 FSM National Law Day

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): June 3, 2009 - FSM National Law Day is one of the court's annually sponsored programs that features high school students representing their states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap in debates on issues of national significance. The purpose of the Law Day, when it was first organized and held in 1991, was to involve high school students and the general public in discussion of issues important to the Federated States of Micronesia as a developing nation. Law Day has become an important activity of the court. Since its inception on July 12, 1991, over 120 high School students from the four states have been involved in the event and over $120,000 in scholarship funds have been issued. For the past seventeen years, the Federated States of Micronesia, through the Supreme Court, has been providing the opportunity to high school students to participate in the development of our nation through debates on issues important to the FSM, and the same opportunity has been given to the general public to be involved in these discussions as well.

A coordinating committee is appointed each year to organize the law day. The committee selected its chairman after the appointment and decided on the topic of the debate. This year's topic is:

"Be it resolved that in the interest of improving the health of the citizens and residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, the importation of the following items into the FSM shall be prohibited by law:

Turkey Tail

Canned Corn Beef

Spam

Instant Ramen Noodle

Such other products as may be determined by statute or regulation to be unhealthful."

Each year, the court pays to send the student debaters to the venue of the debates and provides financial assistance for their initial post-secondary education to attend colleges and universities of their choice, including the College of Micronesia-FSM. The scholarship assistance money is given to the student debaters upon their submission of letters of acceptance to the colleges or universities of their choice to the court.

The venue for the 2009 FSM National Law Day is Chuuk State. Since July 12 falls on a Sunday this year, the committee decided to move the event to Monday July 13, 2009. The ceremonies and debates will commence at 9:00 a.m., Chuuk time, and will be broadcast live throughout the Federated States of Micronesia on Monday, July 13, 2009 from the State of Chuuk.