The 7th FSM Congress convened in its 4th special sessionPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - The 7th FSMCongress convened, March 17, this yearin its 4th special session at the CongressChamber in Palikir, Pohnpei withSpeaker Jack Fritz presiding, and witheight member present and six excusedon the opening day.

The Congress' choir sang the nationalanthem along with those in the chamberwitnessing the opening of the session.Invocation was by Rev. Henry Wilson.

Fritz congratulated the Senators onthek re-election in the recent election.

At the chamber to witness the open-ing of the 4th special session includeNational and State officials, traditionalleaders and others.

Fritz appointed the committee to waiton the President including Floor LeaderJoseph Urusemal as Chairman, andmembers are Senators Nishima Yleizah,Moses Mackwelung, and WagnerLawrence.

President Bailey Olter on March 1stcalled for the 4th special session of the7th Congress to convene on March 17,1993 for 10 days, in Palikir, Pohnpei, to

consider several urgent measures.The main topics of this 4th special

session included three measures relat-ing to the College of Micronesia whichare the ratification of the College ofMicronesia treaty, creating the Collegeof Micronesia-FSM which must exist inits own right by April 1, 1993; theappropriation of funds for the Board ofRegents of the new College ofMicronesia-FSM; and the confirmationsof the nominations of the new Board of

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THE NATIONAL UNIONPEACE • UNITY • LIBERTY

AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PEOPLE OF FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA<•*»•'

Volume 14 Palikir, Pohnpei, March 30,1993 Number 2

4th PBILC met to discuss services for special families and childrenPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - The FourthPacific Basin Interagency LeadershipConference convene at Palikir on the7th of March with the theme, "Assuringthe Continuity of Care and Services forIndividuals with Special Needs: TheChallenge of Transitions".FSM President Bailey Olter addressed

the confernce speaking on theGovernment's responsibilities to AssureContinuity of Care and Services forIndividuals with Special Needs whilePohnpei State Governor Johnny David,and Secretary of Health Services Dr.Eliuel K. Pretrick welcomed the par-ticipants. Maternal Child Health Pro-gram Manager and Conference Co-Chairperson, Sizue Yoma was theMaster of Ceremony.

The discussions on the overview ofthe purposes of the Conference waslead by Dr. Peter Van Dyke, SeniorMedical Advisor to Healthy Family

OLTER ADDRESSED 4TH APBILC -President Bailey Otter on March 11, ad-dressed the Fourth Annual Pacific BasinInteragency Leadership Conference dur-ing the conference's opening ceremonyheld at the Central Conference FacilityBuilding at Palikir, Pohnpei.Headstart from Washington, D.C. whosaid that the conference was designed toprovide an opportunity for the partici-pants to interact with various agencyrepresentatives on a regional and locallevels to create plans that will assure acontinuity of services in the communityfor infants, children and youth with

disabilities and their families; promoteeffective leadership strategies to en-hance smooth service provision transi-tion from agencies to families, and toprovide information on variousinteragency topics such as data collec-tion, physicians involvement in thetransition process and preschool mod-els, to name a few.

Following the formal opening, theconference proceeded with discussionsmoderated by Dr. Phyllis Magrab, Di-rector of Child Development, GeorgeTown University; discussants includedDamian Sohl, Pohnpei's Drector ofHealth Services; Secretary of FSM De-partment of Health Services Dr. Pretrickand Lilly Jean Iriarte, representingparents of Pohnpei State.

The conference defined the criticalelements of transition services regard-ing care plans, care coordination, com-munication systems and community

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(Continued from Page 1)leadership. Alsocovered was ConsumerProspective as it relates to the impor-tance of the elements for families andchildren with special needs.

The conference was hosted by theFSM Health Services, Pohnpei StateDepartment of Health Services and theGuam Department of Public and SocialServices in collaboration with otherlocal, national and international publicservice organizations and technical as-sistance groups.

The conference is unique in that morethan one sponsoring agency is involvedin financing, planning and coordinatingthis major technical assistance event,said Dr. Pretrick.

The purpose of the conference hasbeen to provide vehicle for intra-agency,and interagency, and inter-region com-munication concerning the systems ofservice provisions available for familiesand children with special needs. Thisyear's focus is on how agencies canassure that the children who are at riskfor health or educational problems willbe provided with adequate support andassistance as they move from theirhomes to the hospital, to school andback into the community.

The participants were from the Com-monwealth of the Northern MarianaIslands, four States of the FSM, theRepublic of the Marshall Islands, theRepublic of Palau, the Territory ofAmerican Samoa, and the Territory ofGuam. The teams consisted of adminis-trator from public health, special educa-tion, and early childhood educationprograms along with selected parentrepresentatives and community leadersfrom throughout the Pacific Basin. Someof the team members will also bespeaking on various panels during theweek. Action Plans for interagencyactivities were designed by the jurisdic-tional teams.

The pre-conference meetings beganon March 7,1993 at Pwomaria ResortOn March 8, 1993, the conferencemoved to Palikir.

John Shwab, Ph.D., DepartmentChief, Child and Adolescent PrimaryCare Services, US Department of Health

and Human Services, Maternal andChild Health Bureau, an advocate ofPacific Basin health and education pro-grams for many years as well as keysponsor of the event was a presenter ofthe conference, along with Dr. PhyllisMagrab, Director, Child DevelopmentCenter, Georgetown University. Localleaders spoke during the week includ-ing Damian Sohl, Director of Health,Pohnpei State, Dr. Anthony Polloi, Di-rector, Palau Bureau of Health andSenator Mandeleine Burdallo, GuamLegislature. Other U.S. sponsoringagency representatives were PascalTrohanis, Ph.D., Director, NationalEarly Childhood Technical AssistanceSystem,University of North Carolina atChapel Hill and Richard Zeller, Ph.D.and technical assistance staff, WesternRegional Resource Center, Universityof Oregon. In addition to the sponsor-ing groups there were other participat-ing agencies and representatives in-cluding: Susan Moses, CommunityCollege of Micronesia; Dotty Kelly,Coordinator, NECTAS, University ofHawaii and the Pacific Basin DeaiTBlindProgram; Gregory Dever, M.D., Direc-tor, Pacific Basin Medical OfficersTraining Program in Pohnpei;Philomena Milong, Coordinator, PalauParent Network; Jo Butts, Coordinator,Technical Assistance for ParentsProject; Nancy Ratokalau, Ph.D.,Training Director, University of Ha-waii, University Affiliated Program;Henry Ichiho, M.D., M.P.H., Head,Maternal and Child Health Program,University of Hawaii, and Peter VanDyck, M.D., Healthy Start ProgramAdvisor, Washington D.C.

This is the first year that the confer-ence is being held in the Federated Statesof Micronesia. Previous Conferenceshave been held in Guam and Saipan.The conference's Co-ChairpersonsLaurent Duenas, Administrator, GuamBureau of Family Health and NursingServices and Sizue Yoma, from FSMHealth Services were busy planning theonsite logistics with the assistance oftheir staff, other agency personnel andvarious technical agency staff.

The efforts of professionals, parents

and community leaders working to-gether makes a difference in the lives ofour children and is a commendable goalto achieve as we move toward thetwenty-first century.

The conference was closed on 11 th ofMarch.

CFSM(Continued from Page 1)Regent members. All of these mattersneed Congressional actions before April1,1993, the letter said.

President Olter also asked Congressfor its confirmation of the nominationof Del Pangelinan to become the FSMPublic Auditor, replacing Jack Yakana,the current FSM Public Auditor. An-other nomination awaiting confirma-tion is the nomination of Dr. CatalinoCantero as Secretary of the newly cre-ated Department of Education.

Olter requested favorable consider-ation by Congress of certain proposedamendments to Public Law No. 7-101,to make the law and the agreementbetween Asian Development Bank andFSM compatible.

Public Law No. 7-101, which autho-rizes the FSM Government to borrowfrom Asian Development Bank (ADB)$6.5 million dollars for Fisheries project,was passed by Congress and signed byPresident Olter into law with certainmodifications which are incompatiblewith the loan agreement which the AsianDevelopmentBank's officials held cer-tain reservations, causing a delay in therelease of the loan to the FSM. Theproposed legislation is intended to rec-tify the incompatibility between theagreement and the legislation.President Olter said that he limits the

number of issues on which he is re-questing Congress' action in order notto distract the focus of Congress. But,he said he will ask the next Congress tofavorably consider during the May 1993Regular Session more proposed legisla-tions.

Nena presents his concerns COM

NEW CAT TEAM IN POHNPEl - Atransfer ceremony was held at the CATteam's camp in Pohnpei on March 12,1993 . Remarks were by United StatesAmbassador Aurelia E. Brazeal, and oth-ers. Above is Governor Johnny Daviddelivering his remarks.

MMA & KDSFAsigned agreement

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - TheMicronesian Maritime Authority(MMA) and Korean Deep Sea FisheriesAssociation concluded successfullyanother round of Fisheries Access ne-gotiation early February this year andsigned the access agreement.

The agreement will be presented toCongress for its review and approvalbefore it can be implemented. The Au-thority concluded the agreement aftertwo difficult rounds of negotiations.

The agreement, if approved by Con-gress, would grant access to Koreanfishing vessels to fish within the FSM's200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ). In return the Association willpay an annual fee of approximately$2,415,000, an increase of approxi-mately 72% over the previous fee level,says Jesse Raglmar Subolmar, Chair-man of MMA. In addition to the in-creased fee level, the agreement wouldalso ban the current practice of trans-shipment at sea and therefore, bringsthe transshipment of catches to FSMports. The agreement also includemeasures to improve on the provisionof catch data requirement.In November of last year the two par-

ties broke off negotiations over dis-agreement over MMA's insistent thatthe Korean vessels pay more on theroyalties fee to the FSM. The two-daynegotiation was attended by all MMAAuthority members except the KosraeState's member, Gerson Jackson, whowas unable to attend the negotiation.

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - Vice PresidentJacob Nena on January 21, this year,wrote a letter to Dr. Eliuel K. Pretrick,the Rector of the College of Micronesia(COM), calling the Board of Regent'sattention to a number of issues whichconcerns the FSM Government regard-ing the well-being of College ofMicronesia-FSM.

Nena said that the FSM Governmentwill not be responsible for payment ofdeficits resulting from the operation ofthe COM treaty unless the Governmentofficially accepts it and funds are dulymade available for it.

Nena said that the National Govern-ment will not pay for CCM operationaldeficit until an audit is completed.Should such audit verify misappropria-tion of funds, such personnel havinginvolvement in misappropriation ofCCM funds will be asked to make res-titutions. In the interim, Nena toldPretrick that, the FSM Department ofEducation is designated to make pay-mentsofCCMbillsagainstthe$400!000dollars recently appropriated by theCongress of the FSM.

Nena also said that awarding ofscholarship to applicant seeking entryinto Micronesian Occupational College(MOC), Community College ofMicronesia (CCM) or College of theMarshall Islands (CMI) will henceforthbe decided by the FSM GovernmentThis does not apply to self-supportingstudents who pay their own expenses.Nena said that the second quarter stu-

dent tuition and otherfee requests shouldbe substantiated with signed registra-tion and activity forms and a copy ofofficial transcript for the previous schoolyear before payment is made.

Nena stated that current members ofthe Board of Regents should continue intheir capacities to advice and coordinateoperations of CCM until new nomineesare confirmed by Congress.

He added that the new Board of Re-gent will be asked to make necessarystaff reshuffling to ensure sound admin-istration and fiscal management.

Nenat concluded thank the CCM Fi-nance Committee, on President Olterand his own behalf, for its dedicationand determination in seeking favorablesolutions to the College's problems.

UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ON PRESIDENT BAILEY OLTER - SomseyNorindr, UNDP Resident Representative {left) paid a courtesy call on President Bailey Olterduring his familiarization visit to the FSM from February 28 to the 3rd of March this year.Norindr, who assumed his duties in mid February last year as the UNDP Resident Represen-tative with resident in Suva, presented to President Olter a letter from the UNDP AdministratorWilliam H. Draper III, Informing Norlndr's responsibility for administering the UNDP Programin the FSM, in replacement ofNigelRingrose who was recently reassigned to other duties. TheResident Representative was accompanied by Sylie Goyet, UNDP Program Officer forMicroneisa. From left to right are: UNDEP Resident Representative Norindr; UNDP ProjectOfficer Goyet; Deputy Assistant Secretary for UN/Multilateral Affairs Jeem Llppws; ProtocalOfficer teshe lehsl (partially hlddont), and FSM President Bailey Olter.

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FRIEND OF LONG AGO - Old time friendsof President Bailey Olter visited him at hisoffice in Palikir. Olter had a photo session with them and from left to right are SpecialAssistant to the Vice President Josiah Wakuk, ShiZhao Yu, George Chu, Vice PresidentJacobNena,DavidM. Sablan whoisaconsultant,PresidentBaileyOUer,MiaoLeSheng,Li Xiar Fu, and Chief of Staff Bermin Weilbacher.

SPC can provides assistance on AIDS & STDPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - The South Pa-cific Commission (SPC) can providetechnical assistance and financial grantsup to $5,000 to community groups toconduct their own AIDS and STDeducation and prevention activities, saidAtanraoi Baiteke, Secretary-General ofthe SPC, in a release.

In his message for the World AIDSDay, 1992, with the theme "A Com-munity Commitment" Baiteke said thatthe most successful programs in AIDSprevention were organized and con-ducted by community and peer groups.

So far, over 20 community groups in12 Pacific island countries have receivedfinancial assistance including a videoproduced for Vanuatu's Wan SmolbagTheatre, which highlights issues relatedto HIV and AIDS. Charlotte's Storyanother video produced by SPC about aSamoan mother whose son got AIDSand died, and how the family handle thesituation.Understanding AIDS is a booklet that

has been translated into 20 languages ofthe South Pacific countries includingthe FSM S tales of Chuuk and Yap. Forfurther information, contact StevenVete, South Pacific Commission, B.PD5, Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia,Telephone: Area Code (687) Telephone

26-20-00; for Fax: Area Code (687) 26-38-18;forTelex:3139NMSOPACOM.

In the FSM, call your State AIDSCoordinator, or the FSM Dr. Eliuel K.Pretrick, Secretary, Department ofHealth Services; Palikir, Pohnpei; FM96941. Both State or National AIDSCoordinators can help you with yourrequests.

U.S. TURNED -OVER EQUIPMENT TOFSM-Thegovernmentofthe United Statesof America turned-over some equipmentto the FSM on February 2?this year. Thebrief transfer of equipment took place atthe Pohnpei Dock. From left to right areDirector of Office of Freely AssociatedStates Lynne Lambert, U.S. Ambassador tothe FSMAurelia E. Brazeal, and Chief ofU.S. Relations Epel lion. In the back aretwo staff of the U.S. Embassy in the FSM.

Japan smallgrant assistantPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - The FSM Em-bassy in Tokyo has recently been in-formed by the Government of Japanthat it is introducing a new scheme forSmall Scale Grant Assistance to devel-oping countries such as the FSM.Such grant assistance will be given to

projects undertaken by either govern-mental or non-governmental entities thatwould contribute significantly to "eco-nomic and social development, im-provement of public welfare, or similarobjectives in developing countries".

However, the Government of Japanrequires that recipient Governmentwould ensure that such goods and ser-vices acquired be used solely for theproject and are exempted from customsand duties or other types of internaltaxes and fiscal levies that maybe im-posed on such goods and services. TheGovernment of the FSM has commu-nicated to the Government of Japan ofits acceptance of the offer and its re-quirements.

Arriola replacesPalsis as KosraeState LNO In Pohnpei

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - The KosraeState Liaison Officer, Maker Palsis, leftPohnpei January , this year, returninghome after serving for three years andten months as Liaison Officer betweenKosrae and Pohnpei States and the FSMNational Governments.

Palsis became Kosrae State LiaisonOfficer during former Governor YosiwoGeorge's Administration and contin-ued under the new Governor ThurstonSiba until he was notified by the Gover-nor through telephone that he is beingrelieved of his post by Arriola.

Palsis' successor, Kun Arriola, for-merly served as Administrative Officerin the Governor Thurston Siba's Officebefore taking the new assignment .

Twenty six Australian pigs arrived PohnpeiPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - Twenty Sixgenetically improved breeding pigs ar-rived Pohnpei the first of February thisyear by chartered aircraft direct fromAustralia, according to the AustralianEmbassy in Pohnpei.

Stanford said that 24 of the pigs hadbeen purchased by Pohnpei Pork Cor-poration and two additional boars wouldbe donated to Pohnpei Agriculture andTrades School (PATS). One boar wasbeing donated through the AustralianGovernment Small Grants Scheme, andthe other is a direct donation by thesupplier, Hyfarm industries.

The Ambassador described the Projectas a flagship for Australian involve-ment in FSM Agriculture. Australiantechnical expertise and genetic engi-neering would be working hand in handwith a Pohnpeian joint venture partnerand the FSM Development Bank. Itwill be a small project, which if success-ful, could be followed by others.

He expressed the hope that these pigswould significantly benefit the FSM byproviding an improved genetic pool forlocal producers and eventually lead toimport substitution of pork products.

The pigs are being supplied by anAustralian company, Hyfarm Industrieswhich specializes in the breeding ofpigs for high performance in the tropi-cal environment Australia is an idealcountry for the import of pigs into theFSM as it is free of exotic diseases

endemic in many other countries, statedthe release. Dr. Alan King of HyfarmIndustries who is a qualified Veterinar-ian will be travelling with the pigs toensure their safe arrival.

Dr. King who visited Pohnpei lastyear was very impressed with PATS'achievements and said that the schoolwill benefit by the donation of a pure-bred Landrace boar and purebredHampshire boar by creating a new ge-netic base for their breeding programand thus improve the quality and quan-tity of pigs produced at their piggery.

Pohnpei Pork Corp. has purchased 20purebred gilts and four purebred boarswhich will be used as foundation stockfor its commercial piggery project whichis being completed in Nett Municipal-ity. Pohnpei Pork Corporation is a jointventure between local business man,Hatler Gallen and David Smith, an Aus-tralian who has had previous experi-ence in breeding pigs in tropical envi-ronment in Australia.

Pohnpei Pork Corp. will use this firstconsignment of stock as a nucleus herdfrom which to build a sound geneticbase and to produce stock to supplyPohnpei with fresh pork and pork prod-ucts with a view to import substitution.The company will be building a smallslaughterhouse to cater for this need inthe near future. Live breeding stockwill also be available for sale to otherfarmers to generally improve the pigbreeding in Pohnpei.

BREEDING PIGS FROM AUSTRALIA TO POHNPEI- TwentySixgeneticoUy improvedbreeding pigs arrived Pohnpei the first of February this year by chartered aircraft directfrom Australia, according to the Australian Embassy in PohnpeL The above photo wastaken at the Pohnpei International Airport upon arrival The pigs are being transferedfrom the chartered plane to a vehicle. Handing the pigs over to David Smith from theplane is Robert Bardalome.

Chief of Staffrepresent FSMto tourism seminar

PALIKIR, Pohnpei ( FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - FSM PresidentBailey Olter appointed Chief of StaffBermin Weilbacher to represent theFSM Government to the 3rd PacificIslands Area Seminar, in Honolulu,January this year. The State of Hawaii'sOffice of International Relations co-sponsored the seminar with Japan'sAssociation for Communication ofTranscultural Study (ACT) Foundation.The invitation for a FSM Government

representative to participate in theseminar was extended to President Olterby Hawaii's Governor John Waihee andSecretary General of ACT FoundationTomoyoshi Kaneko.

The overall theme was "CulturalTourism." Various speakers definedwhat Cultural Tourism is and discussspecific topics as the role of culture asfoundation of tourism. Regarding Edu-cation, the topics relating to examina-tion of cultural studies as lifelong learn-ing, experiential cross-cultural educa-tion, and cross-cultural encounters wereexplored. The Economics of tourismdiscussions involved economic and so-cial impact of tourism on the PacificIslands, small business development ofcultural tourism, and a big business casestudy on economic benefits of culturaltraining. The Islands Delegates brieflydiscussed their tourism strategies, andhow they relate to and affect indigenouscultures.

Invited Speakers at the Seminar werefrom the University of Hawaii's Schoolof Travel Industry Management, Ha-waii Visitors Bureau, and Bishop Mu-seum, Tokai University, MarimedFoundation, East-West Center, PacificIslands Business Center, Economicsdepartment of the University of Hawaiiand a Hawaii resort hotel with a suc-cessful cultural training program.

The participants were housed at theTokai University in Honolulu. All ex-penses for the seminar were paid for bythe sponsors of the Seminar.

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PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - The FSM Na-tional Government has completed itsreview of Fiscal Year 1994 Presidentialproposed Budget which will be finalizedfor submission to the Eighth Congresswhen it convenes its First RegularSession in May 1993, according to thePresidential Budget Review Committee(The Committee).

The Committee is Chaired by VicePresident Jacob Nena with other mem-bers including FSM Budget OfficerPatrick Mackenzie, Director of Ad-ministrative Services Kohne Ramon,Secretary of External Affairs Depart-ment Resio S. Moses and the President'sChief of Staff Bermin Weilbacher.

The Committee on January 19, thisyear issued to departments and agencyheads, the guidelines for revising theirFY 1994 Budget. The guidelines stipu-lated that the Fiscal Year 1993 budgetlevel will be the basis for the Fiscal Year1994 budget request.To cover the additional personnel cost

of approximately $600,000 dollars in afiscal year for the salary increase for allpublic service employees which wasenacted by the Seventh Congress andtook effect on January 1, 1993, theCommittee had directed that rather thaninflating the overall budget figure, eachdepartment and agency should coverthis additional cost by proportionatelyreducing the amount budgeted for All

Dr. Cantero confirmed asSecretary of EducationPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - The FSMCongress in its 4th Special Sessionconfrimed the nomination of Dr.Catalino Cantero as the first Secretaryof Education at the national Govern-ment

President Bailey Olter submitted hisnomination of Dr. Cantero to the posi-tion of Secretary of the newly-createdDepartment of Education in a letter toCongress Speaker Jack Fritz.

In his letter, the President stated, "Ihave searched the country for qualifiedFSM citizens and have identified theindividual I believe most qualified tolead the way in developing and guidingthe educational need of our country. Iam therefore, without reservations, veryhappy to advise you that Dr. Canterohas humbly accepted this nominationand is ready to respond to the call ofCongress for the advice and consentprocess."

Olter requested Congress to give itsadvise and consent in "good timing"because of the urgency to move forwardon the educational development such asthe restructuring of the College ofMicronesia System.

Cantero is the first Micronesian toearn his doctorate degree or PhD, thehighest award in educational world, fromOhio University in educational admin-istration. Dr. Cantero has devoted his

entire life to educational developmentAs an appointee awaiting confirmation

by the Congress of the FSM, Canterohence will be an advisor to the Depart-ment.Cantero has been Acting Secretary of

the Department of Education since theestablishment of the Department untilhis appointment.Meanwhile, President Olter appointed

Yosiro Suta, Administrator, FederalPrograms, Community Services andForeign Assistance, as interim ActingSecretary. In so doing, Olter suggestedto all departments and agencies to co-operate with the Acting Secretary.

CHINA DONATED JEEPS TO FSM -The Ambassador of the People's Republicof China to the FSM Li Qinping (right),turned-over the keys of the seven donatedvehicles to the Secretary of External Af-fairs Resio S. Moses (left) in a brief cer-emony held in the parking lot at Palikir.The brief ceremony was attended by na-tional and state officials.

Others Object Class.This includes travel, consumable

goods and fixed assets. The Committeeis recommending a two to three yearstep down, cutting the budget five per-cent per fiscal year. The guidelines givedepartments and agency heads the flex-ibility to decide where in thek budget tomake this budgetary cut or step down.However, it must be reflected on theoverall budget figure.

New positions, re-allocation, upgrad-ing, or promotion of existing positionswill not be requested in the FY 1994budget. Any new program and/or projectwere treated as a separate budget re-quest.

care planPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - Director ofAdministrative Services, Kohne K.Ramon, who oversees the FSM Na-tional Government Employee HealthInsurance Plan has written to all FSMDepartments and Offices informingthem that effective January 15, 1993,the Queen's Health Care Plan will ter-minate its services provided under theFSM Health Insurance Plan.Earlier the Third Party Administrator

informed FSM Administrative ServicesDirector that it will terminate its con-tract with the FSM Government. Underthe agreement the FSM Health Insur-ance Plan makes a monthly payment of$65,000 to the Queens Health Care Plan.Meanwhile, Ramon has recommended

that off-island medical referrals underthe FSM Insurance Plan be sent to Guamor Manila until other arrangements canbe made. The FSM has an agreementwith Guam Memorial Hospital HealthPlan who handles its patients both inGuam and at the Makati Medical Cen-ter, Manila Philippines.

The FSM National Government Em-ployee Health Insurance Plan paysGuam Memorial Hospital Health Care$35,000 monthly for this service.

I AC provides lifeinsurance for FSM

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - The IndividualAssurance Company (IAC) again hasbeen awarded another contract to pro-vide Group Life Insurance, which in-clude both basic and supplementalbenefits, to the Government employeesthroughout the Federated States ofMicronesia.

The contract period of three years, theCompany informed the President thatprocessing of local claim payments ofup to $5,000 to the beneficiary will bedone in coordination with the Bank ofFederated States of Micronesia. In thisway IAC will be providing promptservices to the families in the FSM.Indeed, the letter said, two families inPohnpei have enjoyed the benefits ofthis new arrangement.

The Pacific Regional Director, BillVilla, concluded by reiterating that IACand The Bank of the FSM will strive tobe of service to the people of the FSM.

Meanwhile, the Office of Adminis-trative Services in theFSM Governmentremind all its employees to file for theinsurance.

Contract employees tosubmit progress report

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - All FSM em-ployees on Special Contracts, Indepen-dent Contract or Other Contract ar-rangements have been advised by theDirector of Administrative Services tosubmit to his office a written report ontheir job accomplishments or failures atleast 15 days prior to the expiration dateof their contracts, according to a letterfrom Administrative Services.

President Bailey Olter, on October16, last year, issued guidelines for re-newal or extension of any contracts anddirected Administrative Services tomonitor and to ensure compliance.Failure to comply with the guidelines

which include submission of reportswill result in disapproval or denial ofthe renewal or extension of such con-tracts, the letter concluded.

MALEM SENIOR CITIZENS VISITED OLTER - President Olter wospresentedagiftby the Malemsenior citizens when they visited him at his office during the citizens visit to Pohnpei, March 3,1993.Front, left to right are: Malem Senior Citizens President Aldo N. Talley presenting the present to thePresident Olter (right). In the back, left to right are: Malem Municpal Government Mayor Emul P.Timothy, and Sapuno F. Lildaksa, and Moody S. Shrew.

Negotiation on the Third Party AdministratorPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - Three FSMGovernment Officials returned toPohnpei after attending several meet-ings with the new Third Party Adminis-trators, on the issues dealing with pay-ment on referral patient's medical bills,utilization review of doctor's orders witha view of minimizing costs, medicalscreening of patients and related logis-tical issues.The Kuakini Medical Center and Ho-

nolulu Medical Group, have reachedagreement with the FSM officials rela-tive to provision of medical assistanceto FSM patients who are insured by theFSM Health Insurance Plan.

The Kuakini Medical Center will pro-vide medical care for in-patients refer-ral cases, while the Honolulu MedicalGroup with memberships of more than200 specialized Medical Doctors willprovide medical screening of FSM'sout-patients referrals.The four medical referral coordinators

attached to the FSM Consulate Officein Honolulu, one from each state of theFSM, will assume new roles in the re-ferral program. They will be respon-sible for conducting the utilization re-view of patients, checking the patient'smedical chart and making recommen-dations on Doctor's orders on preferredmedications, to name a few. They willensure that the Doctor's dischargeplannings are carried out, including en-suring that a patient scheduled revisit toa doctor is not missed.

Also ensuring that a discharged pa-tient who remain in Hawaii for a follow-up visit with his doctor does not miss his

appointment. The follow-up for medi-cal check-up, if the patient had returnedhome, will be the responsibility the StateHospital in his/her Home State, ensur-ing that he/she does not miss the ap-pointment.

Regarding the settlement of FSM'smedical accounts payable, agreementhas been reached which provides that itwill be paid on a weekly basis. Uponreceipt of the summary billing from thehealth care providers in Hawaii andfurther certified for payment by theOffice of the Administrative Services,(OAS) such statement will be forwardedto the FSM Finance, through its Divi-sion of Accounting which will initiatean electronic wire transfer from the ac-countof the FSMHealth Insurance withthe Bank of Hawaii, Pohnpei Branch, tothe Third Party Administrator's check-ing accounts with the Bank of Hawaii inHonolulu. With this arrangement, pay-ments of medical bills should improved.

The Delegation also met with themanagements of Outrigger Hotel Chainin Honolulu to request assistance inproviding lodgings for referral patientswho normally would stay in the Gov-ernment provided houses, but due toovercrowding are unavailable . Thediscussions went well and the prospectfor an agreement is promising, saysRamon.

The delegation was led by the Direc-tor, OAS Kohne Ramon, other memberwere Sihna Lawrence, the Administra-tor of Division of Accounting, Depart-ment of Finance and Perdus Ehsa, Ad-ministrator of the Division of Person-nel, OAS.

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Bank of FSM orderedto pay license fees

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-MATION SERVICE) - The FSM Su-preme Court Chief Justice AndonAmaraich, on January 18,1993, or-dered the Bank of the FSM to paylicense fees to the FSM Governmentfor each separate branch or office.The sum of $3,000 dollars, plus ac-crued interest, deposited in escrowaccount with the FSM SupremeCourt for payment of the bank'slicense fees for three of its branchesfor calendar year 1992, be releasedto the FSM National Government.

The matter brought to rest CivilAction No. 1991-092, Bank of theFSM versus the National Govern-ment of the FSM. The Bank of theFSM, a domestically organized banksought a declaratory judgment fromthe Court that its four branches inthe FSM should pay only $1,000 forthe four branches instead of $1,000for each branch or office. While theGovernment contends that Title 29,section 502, of the FSM Code is to beassessed on per branch and ratherthan per bank.

Acting Chief Justice Amaraich, inreviewing the case, concluded thatthe word "bank" as used in the con-text of the law should be under-stood as bank branch. Thus therequest for summary judgementPlaintiff, Bank of the FSM, repre-sented by Attorney R. BarrieMichelsen was denied, and judge-ment is entered for the Defendant,FSM National Government, repre-sented by Douglas J. Juergens, Chiefof Litigation, Office of FSM Attor-ney General.

KM Municipality celebrated its ConstitutionPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFOR-

MATION SERVICE) - Leaders andresidents of Kitti Municipality cel-ebrated the 8th anniversary of its con-stitution in February this year, withspeeches by the Municipal GovernmentLeaders, local products fair and sportsevents.In his brief keynote address, the Kaunen

Wehi, Soukiseh-leng or Nanmwarki,reminded all leaders in the municipalityto take their duties and responsibilitiesseriously. To illustrate his point he saidhe has accorded them the proper protocolby making particular reference to themin his remarks. The Kitti MunicipalConstitution differs from all other mu-nicipal constitutions, in Pohnpei that itprovides for a functional role for thetraditional leaders in the municipalgovernment, which is consistent withthe expressed spirit of Article 5, sec-

tions 1 and 2, of the FSM Constitution.Other speakers included the

Luhkenmanlap or Chief MagistrateShadoru H. Santos, Speaker ofIsokohnedi or Municipal Council,Dionicio Salmon and State Director ofthe Department of Education DaroWeital.

Following the formal ceremony, thestudents in Headstart level to Eighthgraders from six elementary schools inKitti competed in a variety of track andfield events which occupied the rest ofthe day's activities.Simultaneously, there was an agricul-

tural fair involving a wide variety offarm produce and also a fishing tour-nament. The winners of both the fakand the tournament were rewarded. Thecelebration which was participated by amultitude of people from most villageswas a successful one.

DEBA TE STUDENTS - The students above are students who took part in the March 19,1993, debate, visited the President in the Cabinet room. The topic of the debate is: Resolvethat the President be elected by the people rather than the Congress. From left to rightare: Pamela Else, Maxine Donre, Emily Flares, Coach Advisor NowelHemon, PresidentBailey Olter, Tracy Donre, Stephanie Kanichy, Legina Nakanaga, Leilani Phillip, LynnCarlos, and Coach Advisor Behsel PolL

THE NATIONAL UNIONPublished by: The Office of the President/InformationFEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIAP.O. Bos 34, PALIKIR STATIONPALIKIR, POHNPEI FM 96941