Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Congress confirms Perman and Robert

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): July 20, 2007 - The nominations of Finley S. Perman for Secretary of Finance and Administration and Lorin S. Robert for Secretary of Foreign Affairs have been confirmed by the 15th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Congressional Resolution 15-16 was adopted on July 13 to confirm the nomination of Finley S. Perman as the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration. Perman (40) currently serves as the Director of the Department of Treasury and Administration for the Pohnpei State Government. During his watch, the state government had attained unqualified audits for two consecutive years (2005 & 2006).

Perman is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific College. He has over 200 CPE credit hours from USDA Graduate School. He has extensive training hours in auditing, investigative auditing and banking. Perman's employment background in the financial arena ranges from being a Business Development Specialist for the Pohnpei Small Business Guarantee & Finance Corp to Lead Auditor for the Office of FSM Public Auditor and to Senior Service Assistant at the Bank of Hawaii branch in Pohnpei. Perman has over 12 years work experience in auditing and banking.

Congressional Resolution 15-17 was also adopted on July 13 to confirm the nomination of Lorin S. Robert as the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Robert (51) is an alumnus of both the American University School of International Services in Washington DC and of Oxford University in England. Robert is a seasoned diplomat who has been with the Department for over 20 years.

From 1984 up to his nomination, Robert has served the Government in various capacities from assignments overseas as the Deputy Chief of Mission for the FSM Embassy in Tokyo to positions at the Departments from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asian Affairs to being the Assistant Secretary of the Division of Asia Pacific and Multilateral Affairs. Robert held the position of Deputy Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2001 until his nomination for Secretary.

The remaining nominations are pending at Congress.