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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 13 August 2018 07:30
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
August 2, 2018
Yap, FSM—The FSM National Government has arrested 16 Philippine nationals in Colonia, Yap who arrived at that port aboard a tugboat allegedly operated by Fahrenheit Co., Ltd. They have also seized the tugboat and two cargo containers that were aboard the vessels.
They are being charged with violations of FSM’s Title 18 for entering the FSM’s EEZ without a permit or clearances and also for immigration violations.
A news story by Pacific Island Times says that the tugboat arrived at Yap’s Port of Entry at 11:30 AM on July 30, 2018, without legal documents including Port Clearance, Maritime Declarations of Health, Deratting Certificates or Customs Clearance. That article says that an Environmental Health Services Health Quarantine officer attempted to deny the tugboat “Ocean Support” entry to the port by diverting it to the quarantine buoy near Nungoch Island. But a port agent told EHS that officials from Yap State Department of Resource and Development did not want the tugboat to be moved away from the dock.
Another vessel, the “Forever Lucky” owned by Fahrenheit Co., Ltd had been scheduled to arrive in Yap prior to the recently concluded Micronesian Games, but Philippines authorities detained the vessel and arrested its crew for a variety of violations involving documentation. The Yap government had signed an MOU with Fahrenheit to provide lodging aboard the “Forever Lucky” and to provide catering services for the games but due to the arrest in the Philippines, it never arrived.
It is unclear what the purpose of the trip to Yap by the Fahrenheit tugboat is since the games are now over. FSM law enforcement officials will be looking into that question as well.
The initial hearing date is set for August 14 at the FSM Supreme Court in Yap.
Photo by Joyce McClure
Editor's note: Due to a mechanical failure on a United Airlines flight to Guam, the Supreme Court Justice could not arrive in time for the scheduled preliminary hearing. It has been delayed until August 16.
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 13 August 2018 07:26
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
August 1, 2018
Palikir, Pohnpei—Senator Victor Gouland, Chair of the FSM Congress Standing Committee on Transportation and Communications called an oversite hearing that was held today on the matter of the implementation of the Chuuk fiber optic cable.
President Christian has sent appropriations bills with changing amounts to facilitate the final installation of the fiber optic cable that was landed in Chuuk several months ago. It is an issue that has become politically charged as stakeholders try to implement fiber optic service as quickly as possible, so much so in fact that the highly paid CEO of FSM’s Open Access Entity (OAE), Adolfo Montenegro resigned last week from the FSM Telecommunications Cable Corporation (FSMTCC, not to be confused with FSMTC). Even during the committee hearing, it was difficult to know which, if any of the stories that witnesses gave completely represented the story which is still being sorted out.
As best we understand it from the committee hearing, several months ago FSMTCC (OAE) put out a request for bids to handle all aspects of the operationalization of the fiber optic cable in Weno. That project would have been paid for by a grant from the World Bank. FSMTC (FSM Telecommunications Corporation) did not bid on that project. FSMTCC (OAE) proceeded to negotiate with a landholder for the construction of a small building on the grounds of the L5 Hotel to house the equipment for the cable. The cable would then run from that small building to FSMTC.
Apparently, though the negotiated lease was for a period of time that coincided with the expected life of the cable, concerns arose that the building was to be built on non-government land.
FSMTCC (OAE) says that it would take about a year to implement the plan as they had organized it and agrees that if it didn’t have to build a new facility it would be much quicker.
Read more: Chuuk stakeholders apply pressure to implement fiber optic services as fast as possible
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 13 August 2018 07:03
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Hits: 308
Secessionists say that the message is US intervention in sovereign affairs
By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
July 19, 2018
FSM—Last week United States Ambassador Robert Riley to the FSM began a media campaign to inform Chuukese citizens about the facts regarding the possibility of a Compact of Free Association with a nation of Chuuk, should the voters decide to secede in their election eight months from now. As United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Ambassador Riley’s words are fully representative of the government of the United States.
In his interview with The Kaselehlie Press, his video message released on YouTube, his radio recordings, and in public forums, the Ambassador gave the very clear message that there have only ever been three Compacts of Free Association with the United States in the world in all of history. There will never be another, even for a new country of Chuuk if that comes to exist.
He made it clear that the United States government would never interfere with the right of self-determination for the people of Chuuk. The people of Chuuk have a right to decide. They also have a right to be fully informed before they make their decision at the polls in March 2019.
Of course, the relationship with the United States with a potential new nation of Chuuk is only one part of the information that voters need to know about as they consider secession but that is the only part that Ambassador Riley could authoritatively address.
Upon release of the Ambassador’s YouTube video, proponents for Chuuk’s secession from the Federated States of Micronesia quickly made it clear that they considered the message to be US interference in sovereign affairs. (see Op Ed by Chuuk Attorney General in this issue.)
As US Ambassador to the FSM, it is his job to share information on US policies with the FSM.
“I am not here to tell them how to vote, only to give them the facts so that they can accurately weigh the pros and cons,” Riley wrote after his two public forum meetings in Weno, Chuuk.
Read more: US Ambassador to FSM says no new Compact is on the table for any nation
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Category: Sports
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Published: Monday, 13 August 2018 07:35
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Hits: 290
By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
August 3, 2018
Pohnpei—Pohnpei’s athletes who participated in the Micronesian Games in Yap received heroes’ welcomes as they returned. Hundreds of people carrying banners and cheering wildly welcomed the athletes as they arrived at the airport, and then followed them through town in happy cheering motorcades.
After the last of the athletes arrived today, all of the athletes paraded through town to the government complex where the State sponsored a huge party for them.
The Pohnpei athletes performed very well at the games. Though in terms of gold medals they came in fourth place with a total of 18, they tied with Palau for first place in terms of total medals earned with 70. 33 of those medals were silver medals and 19 were bronze.
Palau won the games with a total of 32 gold medals. The Republic of Marshall Islands was tied with Guam with 29 gold medals each but RMI had 17 silver medals while Guam had 12, putting RMI in second place.
CNMI was in fifth place with nine gold medals, followed by Yap with five. Chuuk also earned five gold medals. Kirabati and Nauru each had two gold medals. While Kosrae did not earn any gold medals they did earn a total of 14 medals, four of which were silver.
In athletics competitions, Pohnpei’s athletes brought home three gold medals, eight silver medals and seven bronze medals.
Pohnpei’s baseballers brought home gold, the first time for a Pohnpei team to medal in a very long time.
Pohnpei’s basketball team came home with bronze medals.
Pohnpei men brought home gold and bronze medals for Micronesian All Around. Pohnpei women brought home gold and silver in the event.
Kestra Aileen Kihleng brought home a very respectable bronze medal for the 2.5 km open water swimming event. It was not only Kihleng’s second ever open water swimming event but also only her second long distance swim competition of any kind. She also came in at a respectable fourth place in the 5K open water swim.
Defending soccer champions, Pohnpei again brought home the gold.
Taylor Paul won a bronze medal for individual spear fishing and Pohnpei’s spearfishing team brought home silver.
In table tennis the men’s team brought silver. Men’s doubles also earned silver, and John Thomsin brought bronze in singles.
Pohnpei women brought silver in Va’a while the men brought bronze.
Pohnpei’s weightlifters and wrestlers brought home an impressive number of medals in a variety of event. Weightlifters brought home four gold medals, 10 silver medals, and two bronze. Wrestlers brought home seven gold medals, 11 silver medals, and three bronze.
Complete results for the Micro Games can be found at http://websites.sportstg.com/medal.cgi?mt=28&pID=1 .
The next Micro Games will be in RMI in 2022.
