The
May 25 - June 06, 2023
1
Kaselehlie Press
The
May 25, 2023
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
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Vol. 23 Issue No. 13
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United States and FSM governments complete negotiations of financial provisions of amended Compact with signing ceremony in Palikir By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press May 23, 2023 Palikir, Pohnpei—In a ceremony this afternoon in the FSM President’s conference room, the United States and the FSM signed documents that are part of the again amended Compact of Free Association between the two countries. “The agreement itself has necessarily been amended, and has necessarily evolved because our region and the world has evolved as well,” said Chief Negotiator for the FSM Leo Falcam. Indeed, for many years, United States representatives consistently, and insistently told the FSM that the financial provision of the Compact agreement would expire and would not be renewed at the end of 2023. Today’s signing gave a definitive sign that the world’s geopolitical situation has changed substantially enough to warrant a new 20-year extension of the financial provisions under the long-standing Compact of Free Association which allows for the United States to protect the FSM Click here for continuation
PUC averts potential water tank catastrophe in Dolonier By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
Adams Brothers Construction Company to repair would require national government action which he said, never happened. the tank. The repairs were completed by the However, he said that PUC would follow up on that proposal. afternoon of May 23.
May 24, 2023 Pohnpei—PUC has averted a potential Water pressure for customers the tank served was tragedy involving the Dolonier water low during the period of the repairs and PUC utilized tank. For approximately three weeks, the FSMTC cell phone network to let its customers PUC had been monitoring four leaks on know about the service interruption and its causes. the water tank. Within the last few days, two of those leaks got bigger which put PUC’s representative BJ Obispo said that now that the tank at high risk of complete and the repairs have been completed, they are refilling catastrophic collapse. the water tank. PUC mitigated the risk of tank failure by According to an email report to Governor Oliver draining 406,250 gallons from the tank and two Pohnpei senators, PUC CEO Nixon Anson over 11 hours, leaving 281 gallons in the wrote that Pohnpei’s 10th Legislature had supported tank as of the morning of May 22 averting the PUC concept plan to rehabilitate the central the possibility of disaster. Meanwhile water system including the steel tanks. They passed they recruited a certified welder from a resolution to that effect with a funding source that