Domenech visits Pohnpei, Micronesia

POHNPEI, Micronesia—Doug Domenech, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs, ended last June 24 his official visit to Pohnpei, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia, where he conferred with President Peter M. Christian on the continuation and strengthening of the U.S.-FSM relationship under the Compact of Free Association.

While at the national government capital complex in Palikir, Domenech also met with FSM Congress Speaker Wesley Simina, vice speaker Esmond Moses, other senators and staff.

Accompanying Domenech were Nikolao Pula, director of the Office of Insular Affairs and chair of the Joint Economic Management Committee and OIA staff.

“On behalf of U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, I am here to celebrate the [United States’] longtime friendship with the people of the Federated States of Micronesia,” said Domenech. “The U.S. and the FSM embarked on this journey together many years ago following World War II.”

Since then, FSM has transitioned from trusteeship to self-governance in 1986, and will transition again in 2023 from direct grant funding assistance to trust fund distributions.

“The U.S. and FSM will continue to work toward mutual goals under the Compact of Free Association to promote economic advancement, budgetary self-reliance, and economic self-sufficiency,” Domenech said.

Before beginning site visits and other meetings throughout the island, Domenech paid a courtesy call on Pohnpei State Gov. Marcelo Peterson, Lt. Gov. Oliver Reed, and key staff. He toured a Compact-funded building at Nett Elementary School with Pohnpei state director of Education Churchill Edward and vice principal Maxson Mallarme. Domenech appreciated the strong support of the Parent Teacher Association at Nett Elementary School as a model for schools on Pohnpei.

Domenech also toured the Nanpohnnmal power plant and met with Nixon Anson Pohnpei Utilities Corp. general manager and staff regarding the current problems on-island with power generation and the need for maintenance funding.

He visited the International Organization for Migration to learn more about emergency disaster assistance in Pohnpei and the FSM, and the Micronesia Registration Advisors on the FSM captive insurance domicile.

Domenech took a boat ride through the Sokehs Dau mangrove channel with Willy Kostka of Micronesia Conservation Trust and other natural resource conservation leaders to learn about mangrove ecosystems and their vital role in food security and protection from storms.

Domenech visited the Nan Madol ruins, guided by FSM and Pohnpei State Historic Preservation officers Gus Kohler and Jason Lebehn, following which he drove through the former campus of the Pohnpei Agricultural and Trade School and went to the Kepirohi waterfall.

FSM vice president Yosiwo George joined Domenech for a special event announcing $241,675 in grant funding to non-profit organization Habele, extending a Yap robotics program to select schools in Pohnpei and Chuuk for 2018-2019. FSM Sens. Isaac Figir and Joseph Urusemal, former president of the Federated States of Micronesia, were also in attendance.

“[Domenech] and I want to ensure that the U.S.-FSM relationship is relevant,” said Pula. “We concur with President Christian that, together, we should make the necessary mutual adjustments as we move toward the 2023 transition and continue strengthening our relationship.”

Domenech and his team, including U.S. Ambassador Robert Riley, concluded the visit to Pohnpei with a traditional sakau ceremony hosted by FSM President Peter Christian and several members of his Cabinet, including Foreign Minister Lorin Robert and chief of staff Leo Falcam FSM’s members of the Joint Economic Management Committee, also known as JEMCO.

Since implementation of the Compact of Free Association in 1986, the United States has provided over $2.5 billion to FSM.

This U.S. investment under the Compact, in addition to numerous other federal programs, has improved schools and hospitals, supported historic preservation programs, built roads, secured airports, monitored and documented weather patterns, immunized children, opened doors to higher education, provided postal services, and provided salaries in critical sectors of education and health services.

U.S. government support has helped lay the foundation for a stable government, where democratic principles and the rule of law thrive, adding a measure of economic security to the islands in the FSM. (PR)