 FSS Micronesia Requires Life Extension ProgramPalikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): July 7, 2009 - The FSM's surveillance boat, the FSS Micronesia, is currently in Australia waiting to be repaired in order to extend its useful life by another fifteen years, according to a letter from President Mori to Speaker Figir of the 16th FSM Congress. President Mori is seeking $80,000 from the national government during the next session of Congress to pay its share of the cost of the Life Extension Program (LEP). The Australian Government is willing to put up more than $3 million for the cost of the LEP, but FSM must contribute $80,000 as its share. President Mori said in the letter, "I cannot overstate the urgency of our need for a workable patrol boat. We currently have only one operational patrol boat for the whole Nation to conduct all surveillance and patrol operations for the entire EEZ and to perform general law enforcement operations within FSM waters." Another patrol boat, the FSS Palikir, is not operational at the moment as it requires slipping that will cost the FSM about $250,000. The President states that this funding is "critical to enable the Division of National Police, under the Department of Justice, to continue to perform its legal obligations as the law enforcement arm of the national government and to guard the Nation from illegal activities, fishing or otherwise, that could be taking place within our jurisdictional waters." The next regular session of the 16th Congress is scheduled to begin on or around September 12th, 2009. The President is seeking Congressional appropriations to fund this LEP from the balance of funds for public projects. |