The
March 20 - April 2, 2024
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Kaselehlie Press
The
March 20, 2024
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
Kpress@mail.fm
Vol. 24 Issue No. 8
(691) 320-6547
FSM President Simina addresses the FSM to announce U.S. signing of “Compact 3” funding law By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press March 10, 2024 Federated States of Micronesia—FSM President Wesley W. Simina addressed the nation today to announce the signing of the Compact Amendments Act of 2023, popularly known as Compact 3, by U.S. President Joe Biden after passage in both the House or Representatives and the United States Senate. “This officially opens an important next chapter in our enduring partnership with the United States through the Compact of Free Association,” President Simina
said. “As many of you know, the path to this day has been longer than expected, and a challenging road that raised concerns about if and when the updated Compact agreements would enter into force. This understandably raised doubt and uncertainty. But in this you can be certain, at the end of the day, the FSM and the U.S. reached an agreement on an outcome that I am confident will benefit both our nations and contribute to greater peace and prosperity for our peoples and to greater security and stability for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.”
will bolster various sectors crucial for the FSM's development, including education, healthcare, private sector development, and infrastructure. Moreover, additional mechanisms have been incorporated to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, ensuring access to emergency assistance and adaptation funding.
The United States will additionally make a total contribution of $500 President Simina outlined key million to the FSM Trust Fund. provisions of the new agreement saying that the FSM will receive mandatory “The changes made will provide the appropriations of $140 million annually FSM greater autonomy and control of Acknowledging the contributions of for sector grants for 20 years beginning numerous individuals and entities, with fiscal year 2024. These funds Click here for continuation on page 5
FSM Supreme Court upholds seating of Yoslyn G. Sigrah in FSM Congress By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
Photo by SPC
President Simina expressed gratitude to the FSM's Joint Committee on Compact Review and Planning (JCRP), the FSM Congress, State governments, and departments, as well as past and present ambassadors, and the U.S. negotiating team. He honored the memory of those who played pivotal roles but are no longer with us, emphasizing the collective effort that led to the historic achievement.
March 15, 2024 Pohnpei—As of late this afternoon, it appears that all legal obstacles to the seating of Yoslyn G. Sigrah as Kosrae’s At-Large representative to the FSM Congress have been removed. The appeals panel of the FSM Supreme Court made its final ruling this afternoon upholding the trial division’s November 2, 2023, declaratory judgment and its November 17, 2023, order granting injunctive relief in Sigrah’s cases.
The November 2 ruling said that the FSM Congress violated the Constitution when it refused to seat Yoslyn G. Sigrah as Kosrae’s duly elected representative. It also declared that Congress must seat Sigrah at the next session of Congress. The November 17 injunction barred the National Election Director from holding a special election to fill Sigrah’s seat after Congress rejected her membership to the body. Click here for continuation on page 5
International Women’s Day INSIDE