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August 28 to Sept. 7, Trip Report by FSM Finance Secretary

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): September 19, 1997 - FSM Secretary of Finance Department John Ehsa submitted to the FSM President a report on a trip which took him to the States of Chuuk and Yap, respectively.

On the Chuuk leg of the trip he was accompanied by Mr. Guy DeLumeau from the US Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs. The two officials met with Acting Governor Manny Sound since Governor Ansito Walter was off-island.

Ehsa and DeLumeau assured Sound of President Nena's continuing commitment to establishing sound financial management practices at the State's Department of Treasury to ensure accountability.

The Secretary also suggested that Chuuk State assumes full disbursement responsibility at the beginning of Fiscal Year 1998 on October 1, 1997. The National Government will, at the same time, maintain some control be continuing the bi-weekly funds drawdown arrangement and the FSM technical staff in Chuuk shall ensure that funds are disbursed properly.

DOI is funding a solar energy project for the office of the Governor which there is hope that similar project can be duplicated in other FSM States.

Acting Governor Sound was reportedly "very pleased and appreciative" of the offered assistance and gave his assurance of full cooperation from his staff.

In Yap, Vice President Falcam, Assistant Attorney General Nina Eejima and Ehsa, after their arrival on September 3, 1997, paid courtesy calls on Governor Vincent Figir and Lt. Governor Mathias Kuor. A brief ceremony was held the next day in which Vice President Falcam presented to Governor Figir the Early Retirement Program check of $2 million. Top officials from the State Government's three branches, traditional leaders, and Yap's FSM Congress Senator Isaac Figir witnessed the hand-over ceremony. Before leaving Yap, the Secretary met with his state counterpart to iron out detail procedures for the program. The delegation departed Yap on September 7, 1997.