KPress Vol. 21 Iss. 07
Jaynes, Bill (2021-03-31). KPress Vol. 21 Iss. 07 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.
- Has attachment: File:UW467DA5.pdf
Abstract: KPress Vol. 21 Iss. 07: NEWS: Students at Saladak Elementary School in U, Pohnpei publicly demonstrate outcomes of a PREL-led indigenous learning pilot funded by Nia Tero, including weaving, canoe knowledge, agroforestry, sakau ceremony, and traditional leadership instruction, with attendance by Governor Reed Oliver and Education Director Stanley Etse; the FSM Department of Justice files a motion to dismiss a constitutional challenge to the national COVID-19 border closure, arguing failure to name indispensable state parties and asserting the doctrine of non-justiciable political questions under Article X, Section 9 of the FSM Constitution; a civil action filed in Chuuk names FSM Congress Speaker Wesley Simina, Senator Tiwiter Aritos, Mayor Amando Marsolo, Alexander Narruhn, and multiple national agencies, alleging misuse of public project funds, voter coercion, and civil rights violations to influence Chuuk elections, and seeking injunctions, special prosecution, and punitive damages; Pohnpei Supreme Court Chief Justice Nelson A. Joseph rules that removal of the Setik family land case to the FSM Supreme Court was lawful, warns plaintiffs’ counsel Yoslyn Sigrah against relitigating settled jurisdictional issues, and threatens sanctions under procedural and ethical rules; Japan signs a $64,472 grant agreement with Governor Reed Oliver and the Pohnpei Port Authority to install port traffic controls and security cameras to address smuggling and human trafficking risks; Ausen Lambert petitions the National Election Office seeking a revote in Pohnpei’s ED1 congressional election, challenging the closure of Guam and Honolulu polling places, absentee ballot handling, signature verification, and ballot rejection practices following certification of Ferny Perman’s 117-vote victory; President David W. Panuelo briefs the Congressional Committee to Wait on vaccination progress, repatriation timelines, stimulus linkage to vaccination, and nominations including Gardenia Aisek, Alik K. Jackson, Jane Chigiyal, Mathew Chigiyal, Manny Mori, and Jeem S. Lippwe; the U.S. Department of Labor extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and FPUC benefits in FSM through September 2021 under the American Rescue Plan; Japan provides $177,000 for garbage trucks for Kolonia Town; NGOs and state agencies convene Pohnpei’s second Mangrove Conference, prioritizing a state mangrove management plan, stronger enforcement, improved EIAs, and dredging regulation; FSM, regional partners, and Quad states conclude Operation Rai Balang fisheries surveillance, including search-and-rescue of missing Chuuk fishers by FSS Palikir and USCG assets; Secretary Carlson Apis briefs contractors on a $400 million infrastructure pipeline across Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae and development of an FSM Building Code; NORMA advances electronic monitoring for longline fisheries toward full implementation by 2023; OPINION / EDITORIAL: commentary and feature interviews highlight women’s leadership in fisheries governance, cultural preservation through Habele’s WeavingConnections initiative, and community-based responses to climate resilience, water security, and forest restoration.
