KPress Vol. 19 Iss. 21
Jaynes, Bill (2019-09-30). KPress Vol. 19 Iss. 21 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.
- Has attachment: File:665R9XPU.pdf
Abstract: KPress Vol. 19 Iss. 21: NEWS: FSM Supreme Court Justice Mayceleen JD Anson issues a Temporary Restraining Order halting commercial sea cucumber harvesting in Pohnpei following a civil action filed by attorney Marstella Jack on behalf of seven minors, naming the Pohnpei Governor, Pohnpei State Government, the Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture and its administrator, and Young Sun International Trading Company as defendants, and grounding the claim in alleged violations of customary law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; the filing asserts failures to adopt a comprehensive management plan and precautionary measures, seeks declaratory relief, and requests a permanent injunction against the Young Sun contract authorizing harvest of up to 67 tons of sea cucumbers; reporting details that the court scheduled an expedited hearing, that the TRO was stipulated by appearing counsel, and that the merits of the case remain pending; separate analysis by University of Guam Marine Laboratory scientist Dr. Peter Houk documents multi-year declines in Pohnpei sea cucumber populations, especially large-bodied species, based on reef monitoring conducted with the Conservation Society of Pohnpei and OFA, and links depletion risks to prior unrecorded harvesting, climate events, and inadequate enforcement; election coverage reports that two complaints and one recount request delayed certification of Pohnpei State election results, with unofficial tallies indicating Lt. Governor Reed B. Oliver as Governor-elect and Feliciano Perman as Lt. Governor-elect, alongside close legislative races and municipality-by-municipality results; Yap State Legislature introduces a bill proposing to ban the sale of single cigarettes and tobacco sales to minors, citing WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control obligations and anticipating enforcement and economic impacts; public notice from MiCare Health Insurance Plan proposes a 6.5 percent premium increase effective December 1, 2019 pursuant to actuarial recommendations and FSM statutory procedures; FSM Information Services reports President David W. Panuelo conducting a citizenship ceremony for newly naturalized citizen Franz Hetiback; economic development reporting outlines the Small Business Guarantee & Finance Corporation’s new five-year strategic plan emphasizing tourism and agriculture lending; community reporting includes results of the Budweiser Fishing Tournament, the ANCOP Global Walk fundraiser, Filipino Community of Pohnpei officer elections, and IOM-hosted Global Migration Film Festival screenings.
