KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 13
Jaynes, Bill (2017-06-05). KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 13 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.
- Has attachment: File:UPQHYS6G.pdf
Abstract: KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 13: NEWS: Congress passes last-minute bills in an effort to meet World Bank fiber-optic funding requirements; Palikir, Pohnpei—the FSM Congress passed two bills which, when taken together, were intended to satisfy World Bank conditions for what would be the largest single project grant in FSM history; the two bills effectively rejected in their entirety legislation previously submitted by the Department of Transportation, Communications, and Infrastructure (TC&I) that would have transferred certain FSM Telecommunications Corporation (FSMTC) assets to a new government-owned wholesale communications entity, leaving uncertainty as to whether the compromise would ultimately meet World Bank requirements; related coverage reports that John Sohl retired as FSMTC Chief Executive Officer and that Fredy Perman was named as his successor; additional community reporting notes Chuuk youth participation in the Future Scholars Program; legal reporting from Pohnpei states that the Office of the Attorney General filed claims against four former Pohnpei State employees based on audit findings of the Pohnpei payroll system for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 conducted by the Pohnpei Office of the Public Auditor in 2013, which found that the government exceeded its overtime budget by $164,247.52, including $145,336.35 attributable to the Department of Treasury and Administration and $100,670.53 paid to just five employees within that department for a combined 9,172.5 overtime hours; a joint investigation by the Department of Public Safety and the Audit Office Compliance Investigation Unit resulted in a report submitted to the Attorney General’s Office, with reference to the possibility of refiling dismissed theft charges; additional coverage reports that the FSM National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA) donated proceeds from World Tuna Day skirt sales to Early Childhood Education centers, with an Outcome and Appreciation Ceremony held on May 19, 2017 during which Executive Director Eugene Pangelinan presented certificates of appreciation and expressed expectations for an expanded celebration in future years; the World Tuna Day events included a tuna-themed locally tailored skirt or “urohs” competition and involved participation by representatives from World Bank/PROP, FSM Vital Petrocorp, FSM Telecommunications, the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, the Pohnpei Department of Health Services, the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, the Vice President’s Office, King’s Media Zone, Etscheit Enterprises, Jitters Coffee, Kaselehlie Press, and volunteers from COM-FSM; OPINION / EDITORIAL: commentary references letters from President Christian accompanying the asset-transfer legislation describing it as the only acceptable path forward, alongside editor’s notes on publishing letters to the editor in unedited form where possible, notices inviting submissions of CVs and cover letters for services supporting women and girls, and discussion of a legal opinion letter submitted under the auspices of a group whose proposed incorporation name had been rejected by the state government as misleading, with acknowledgment that letters to the editor are welcome and subject to publication at the editor’s discretion.
