---

Public Auditor dedicates new building

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): September 19, 2003 - On September 17, the Office of National Public Auditor's held a small dedication ceremony to officially open the recently completed building in Palikir.

The structure is located opposite the Capitol Complex and across from the Kaselehlia Building which houses the Departments of Economic Affairs; Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure along with the National Oceanic Resource Management Agency.

The National Public Auditor, Haser Hainrick, said the location of the building "appropriately reflects the independence as required by law, under which the National Public Auditor must function, from the rest of the Branches of the national government."

Hainrick said the new building is conducive to their preparations to face the new responsibilities and challenges under the Amended Compact. With his team of "very competent staff," Hainrick reaffirmed the commitment of the National Public Auditor's Office to "do our part in assisting the FSM and the Leadership in our collective effort of building a better FSM."

He thanked the President for the extended support and approval of the project and further expressed appreciation for FSM Congress allocation of funding to construct the building.

Construction began in February 2001, with a total allocation of $205,000 to complete the two phases expected for the project.

Hainrick further thanked the Department of TC&I for their part in the planning, designing, executing and monitoring of the project and the Contractor, VCS-White Sands, for realizing the structural concept.

The short dedication ceremony involved a "hand-over" of the key to the building from the constructor to the National Government who turns it over to the FSM Public Auditor or the Tenant and finally closed with a ribbon cutting that opened the double doors for general viewing.