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US ambassador visits leaders in the Mortlocks
Left to right: Peace Corps volunteers Katie Polus and Dan Parker, U.S. Ambassador Doria Rosen, Mason Fritz, Robert Reid, and Brian Riley in Satowan. (Contributed Photo)
Travel to the islands required flying on a small prop plane to Ta, and then traveling across open ocean in a 21-foot skiff with a 40-horsepower outboard engine to the islands of Lekinioch, Oneop, Moch, Kuttu, and Satawan.
While on the islands they overnighted with local residents, visited Peace Corps volunteers, local schools, community and education leaders, and answered questions from the island residents.
Several of the islands had formal welcoming events with a town hall like opportunity for the villagers to ask the ambassador questions. There was considerable concern and misunderstanding about what they referred to as the “end of the Compact.” The ambassador assured them that contrary to what they were voicing, the 2023 funding changes did not mean that the United States was terminating the agreement or withdrawing from the region.
Riley stated: “This visit was helpful to understand the logistical and transportation challenges faced by Peace Corps Micronesia, and I was impressed by the resiliency of the volunteers and by the close relationships they formed with the peoples of the Mortlocks.” (U.S. Embassy Kolonia)
