---

U.S. Embassy in Pohnpei padlocks Rural Development office

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): June 2000 - The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development office in Pohnpei has temporarily suspended operations, according to a U.S. Embassy news release.

The suspension of operations has been deemed necessary by the U.S. government to secure records needed to respond to a draft report from the FSM Public Auditor's Office on the use of funding provided to the Rural Development Office by the FSM National Congress, said the news release.

"The suspension is necessary to preserve files which document the expenditure of $479,000 provided by the FSM National Congress to the Rural Development office over the last five years. Office operations will be suspended until the arrival of USDA personnel from a supervising office," stated the news release.

The office is expected to reopen upon the arrival of supervising personnel, according to the release.

The office was closed and padlocked Friday, June 9.