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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 June 2018 00:43
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
June 5, 2018
Pohnpei, FSM—This week a high level bi-partisan delegation from Australia paid visits to the Micronesian sovereign nations in the North Pacific including the FSM. The delegation consisted of Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Senator for South Australia and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Senator for Queensland and Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific Claire Moore.
The visit was facilitated through the hard work of Australian Ambassador to the FSM George Fraser and his staff.
Traveling aboard an Australian Navy jet, the party travelled from Palau to Pohnpei on Monday June 4. They spent the next morning touring the FSM’s World Heritage Cultural Site, Nan Madol before their motorcade headed to Palikir for bilateral meetings with President Peter M. Christian and his cabinet members.
At an afternoon reception for volunteers from Australian Volunteers International and for Australian scholarship award recipients at Orchid’s Restaurant at Ocean View Senator Wong underscored the importance of the visit. She said that anyone who follows Australian politics would know that their parliament is a noisy place with many disagreements among the members of the party of power and their opposition. She said that one thing they agree on is the importance of Pacific Island nations.
Read more: Australia affirms support of FSM in high level bi-partisan visit
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 June 2018 00:43
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Hits: 282
By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
June 8, 2018
Pohnpei—The Secretariat of the Pacific Community has released a 55 page assessment of sea cucumber stocks in Pohnpei waters. The result suggest that sea cucumber stock have not recovered from a long history of harvesting prior to the 1991 moratorium, and may have been impacted by other factors such as the 2016 harvest, the subsistence harvest for the local market, a disruption to the ecosystem, and detrimental fishing practices.
It says that a preliminary cost-benefit analysis, based on calculated harvestable stock of pinkfish and surf redfish, indicates that there would be little benefit from proceeding with such a small harvest and that it may encourage illegal fishing to generate more profits.
It says that fishers earned a total of $16,854 during the 2016 harvest. The estimation of the selling prices for the harvested sea cucumbers was $123,631. Pohnpei State collected a $25,000 licensing fee from Young Sun Corporation.
Because of those factors, the SPC report recommends maintaining the moratorium on commercial harvesting but it says that if Pohnpei State decided to allow a commercial harvest of sea cucumbers it should at the bare minimum develop a management plan before any harvest is conducted. The assessment provides several management suggestions.
The civil action filed by the Mwoalen Wahu against Pohnpei State and Young Sun Corporation in 2016 resulted in a temporary injunction against implementing the planned commercial harvest of sea cucumbers. The case is still before the court for consideration of the issuance of a permanent injunction but it has been stalled for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Young Sun has recently set up a large tent for a sea cucumber farming project behind a locked gate at the popular swimming spot at the APSCO dock. In its regulations for a sea cucumber harvest, Pohnpei’s Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture requires a rebuilding of harvested stock through seeding or spawning. It is not clear what method Young Sun is using at their new facility at the APSCO dock and we could not find a way to reach them.
Read more: SPC report on sea cucumber populations recommends moratorium on commercial harvest should remain
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Category: News
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Published: Monday, 18 June 2018 00:43
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Hits: 279
By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
June 1, 2018
Pohnpei—This evening 63 police officers from the national, state and municipal governments graduated from a ten day law enforcement training course conducted by seven certified officers from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) Department of Public Safety.
The training was facilitated by an agreement between CNMI Governor Ralph Torres and Kolonia Town Mayor Jose San Nicolas.
Officers who participated were trained in “breach team” techniques that are useful when law enforcement officers have to enter a property by force. They were also trained in fire arm safety and shooting techniques.
At the graduation ceremony at the Kolonia-China Friendship Gym, each of the officers received a certificate of completion of the training.
In addition to the training provided by the government of CNMI, Governor Torres also donated several handguns to Kolonia Town for law enforcement use. Those handguns were shipped to the FSM Department of Justice pending the possibility of their release to the Kolonia municipal government.
FSM’s Secretary of the Department of Justice Gallen said that he authorized the use of the handguns for training purposes but that after the training they went back into national government custody.
“Handguns are a very dangerous tool,” he said. He said that though the training was a good introduction to the use of handguns he didn’t feel comfortable certifying anyone in the municipal governments to carry one. “It doesn’t mean they’re qualified to use one,” he said.
Pohnpei’s Governor Marcelo Peterson was present at the ceremony as were Secretary Gallen, Municipal leaders, and family members of the graduates. The ceremony lasted for several hours.
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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 31 May 2018 00:41
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Hits: 361
May 21, 2018
Pohnpei—PUC has announced that due to warranty repairs on two of their generators they will be forced to shed power load beginning on May 29 and continuing until June 29. Depending on where customers are located they can expect power to be off for four hours in the morning, four hours in the afternoon, or four hours in the evening for all of next month.
The following are times and areas that will be affected by the repairs on the two generators:
From 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon:
Pohnumpwompw, all of Ace Commercial areas, Daini to Public Market, Dausoklele to Pohnlangas, Madolenihmw, Kahmar, Meitik and Eirike areas, Nantehlik Restaurant and Apartments, Kangaroo Court and Lewi to Nanpil, Nett.
From 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm:
From Spanis Wall to Kepinle, Komwonlaid, Yakipa, Ninseitamw, Pohnrakied, Mapwsi and Likinkel areas, Joy Hotel to Ohmine. From Paies to all of Kitti areas and up to Pohnlangas, Madolenihmw. From Sekere Mormon Church to Pahnasang, all of Sokehs Island, Rusty Anchor to Best Buy Store, all of Nanpatapat Nanpohnmal, Nett and Sokehs, from Pwunso to Nanpeper areas, and from Social Security Office to Kolonia Elementary School
From 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM:
All of Dekehtik Island, Government facilities at Peilapalap, FSM Capitol Complex, WCPFC Complex and all businesses with standby generators.
As a precautionary measure, PUC also advises all of its valued customers to use power surge protectors for appliance to protect against unexpected surges during outages.
If you have any questions regarding the announcement, do not hesitate to contac the PUC Customer Service Office at 320-2374.
