KPress Vol. 12 Iss. 20

Jaynes, Bill (2012-09-17). KPress Vol. 12 Iss. 20 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.

• Has attachment: File:QJD76LFV.pdf

Abstract: KPress Vol. 12 Iss. 20: NEWS: Pohnpei, FSM—Citing an “unprecedented” power crisis, the Pohnpei State Legislature and Governor John Ehsa took emergency action dissolving the Pohnpei Utilities Corporation (PUC) Board, firing the General Manager, suspending standard bidding rules, and appointing a task force that selected Energy Infrastructure Global (EIG), an international private firm specializing in renewable and alternative energy infrastructure, from six submitted bids to address generation needs, superseding an evaluation process already underway and naming Mohner Esiel as Acting General Manager; public-administration coverage reports the rollout of criminal fingerprint identification capabilities; fiscal and governance reporting notes that Compact of Free Association funding supplies roughly 60 percent of Pohnpei’s budget and that cash-flow strain led to bounced government checks, prompting businesses to refuse state checks and employees to report missed allotments—directed deposits from net salaries—while the Governor clarified that salaries were paid and allotments are discretionary, warning of potential difficulties entering the new fiscal year beginning October 1 amid Compact oversight considerations; OPINION / EDITORIAL: commentary references an Attorney General opinion asserting the Governor’s authority to act as the utility board during the emergency period.