Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

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.