The
January 8 - 21, 2025
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Kaselehlie Press
The
January 08, 2025
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
Kpress@mail.fm
Vol. 25 Issue No. 2
(691) 320-6547
Solid Waste Task Force works toward long-term solutions for Pohnpei By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press January 3, 2025 Pohnpei—In terms of capacity, it is no secret that the Dekehtik landfill, popularly known as "the dump," has long been a source of concern in Pohnpei. Since the Pohnpei Legislature assigned the Pohnpei Transportation Authority to manage the site after many years of private management under contract, the capacity issue appears only to have worsened. Further, two days after Governor Stevenson Joseph was inaugurated last year, he was forced to declare an emergency due to drought in Pohnpei. Two days after that, the landfill caught fire deep within the pile. Nearly a year later, that fire is still burning.
Approximately two years ago, Angela Sandoval of the United States Environmental Protection Agency visited the FSM by invitation to assess the solid waste situation in Pohnpei and Chuuk. The US EPA has no jurisdiction in Pohnpei and operates as a "circuit rider," but Sandoval was able to make observations that she shared with the two FSM state governments. In Pohnpei, one of the
particular concerns was the handling and storage of waste oil products both at the landfill area and at the Pohnpei Utilities Company power plant. USAID Country Coordinator Rodger Click here for continuation on page 4
Pohnpei Soccer Association holds Kids’ Club Christmas Tournament By Giulio Biddau and Liz Terk December 21, 2024 Pohnpei—December 21st was a usually warm and occasionally rainy Saturday morning in Kolonia. The streets buzzed with festive traffic, and luminaries awaited sunset to cast a Christmas glow over everyone. However, some may have noticed an unusual weekend flow of cars toward the Kolonia campus of the College of Micronesia FSM. At the CTEC gym, something shiny and Christmas-like was happening: the Pohnpei Soccer Association (PSA) was hosting its annual Christmas Tournament for its Under-14 programs. Under the supervision and organization of Liz Terk and Kevin Mudong, the four-year-old soccer training program for children aged 5 to 14 held a small tournament to celebrate the holidays with the community and their families. The event featured two tournaments: one for children aged 5 to 8 and another for those aged 8 to 14. Players began arriving at 8 a.m. Their excitement and eagerness to play were palpable as balls flew everywhere, COM staff lent a hand, and Christmas music filled the air. Parents, relatives, and friends took their seats as the crowd grew. At 9:30 a.m., slightly later than scheduled, the first match kicked off.
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