---

Close-up, up close with FSM Government

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): June 8, 2001 - From May 21 - 25, 2001, more than 50 students from throughout the Federated States of Micronesia were in Pohnpei as participants of the annual Close-up program.

Sponsored by the Department of Health, Education, and Social Affairs, the Close-up program brought selected students from the four states for an up-close look at the functions and operations of the National Government's three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.

The students toured the seat of the Nation's government and had opportunities of interaction with the various departments and divisions of the Executive Branch and had the privilege of being given a first-hand summary of operations by President Leo A. Falcam himself.

The students also sat in on a Congressional hearing of the Judiciary and Governmental Operations (J&GO) Committee with the Office of the National Election and observed the Legislative Arm of the National Government in action.

The program is funded through annual congressional appropriations as a local derivative of the US Close-up program.

The FSM local version offers high school Sophomores and Juniors annual opportunities to visit the seat of the FSM National Government and observe and learn, first hand, the functions and operations of their government.

In Vice-President Redley Killion's message to the students, he referred to the Close-up program as a Civic Literacy program that they must take full advantage of. He urged the students to familiarized themselves with the intricacies of the government, "you should make it your duty and responsibility to know the ins and outs of your government before you continue on to college."

The program according to Vice-President Killion, creates and maintains for the students a sense of "oneness and unity" amongst themselves. He encouraged the students to retain the personal bond that they had established during the program and maintain contact with each other, "your acquaintances now will become an asset for the unity of the FSM, especially when you take over similar duties and responsibilities at home or when you replace us, FSM leaders, in the future."