Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, March 25, 2003

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): March 26, 2003 –
Members of Congress are participating in a meeting of the
FSM Economic Policy Implementation Council (EPIC) held here in Palikir,
March 24-26, 2003.

Participants are discussing, among others, the status of the Compact
negotiations between the United States and the Federated States, FY 2004
funding for the five governments, the FSM contribution of $30 million for
the proposed Trust Funds and distributions formula for Compact II funding.
In a statement made by the outgoing Speaker during the opening day of the
meeting, Mr. Jack Fritz re-emphasized the need for all levels and branches
of government to work together. Speaker Fritz, in his statement, told the
story of the five brothers who went fishing and pulled up land from under
and argued on the ownership of the land. The five brothers stated their
reasons for ownership until the youngest stated that they all should share
the ownership of the land otherwise if they divide it, they will end up
fighting over boundaries and fighting among themselves. “But if we all
share this land, we will continue to cooperate, sharing our own problems and
continuing to help each other”, the youngest said to his brothers. Speaker
Fritz, using the five fingers as an example of working together, was
alluding to difficulties arising from the states and the national
governments, which should be shared and worked on by all level of
governments and their leaders. Only in helping each other can we make any
difficulties understood and workable.

The next meeting of the EPIC will take place in Kosrae some time in April
of 2003.