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JEMCO Concludes on Positive Note

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): September 17, 2009 - Honolulu, HAWAII (FSM Office of SBOC): September 2, 2009 - Representatives of the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States convened in Honolulu, Hawaii on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 for the sixth regular meeting of the Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO).

During an opening statement, Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas and Chairman of the JEMCO, US Department of Interior-Office of Insular Affairs' Acting Assistant Secretary Nikolao I. Pula, welcomed the Committee's newest member, FSM Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert, who joins Ms. Evelyn Adolph as the FSM's second JEMCO member. Chairman Pula emphasized the importance of strengthening the US/FSM partnership and continuing to promote an atmosphere to hold respectful yet frank discussions of how Compact assistance can help the FSM reach its goals in education, health and other priority areas.

"Of course, we must work within the parameters of what's been negotiated and enacted into law, but I assure you that we will continue to do our best to help JEMCO fulfill its mandate in positive ways," he stated. Chairman Pula went on to mention the progress that has been made since the beginning of the Amended Compact, commending the FSM for its timely submission of the budget and, for the first time, utilizing uniform project-based proposals in the three smaller grant sectors.

As Vice Chairman of the Committee and Head of the FSM Delegation, Secretary Robert noted that the work leading up to this year's meeting established a strong precedent for improved future budget deliberations. He also indicated that although infrastructure remains a challenge, the FSM is beginning to see the sector grants finally take shape with more projects in the design stage than there were a year ago.

Outcomes of the meeting included a total of ten unanimous resolutions addressing issues ranging from sector allocations to better aligned and necessary improvements in the education sector and Infrastructure Maintenance Fund. Of major significance to all four states of the FSM was the passing of a resolution identifying the extra attention needed in the area of utilities.

For more information, please contact the FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs, Chuuk State Hospital MDRTB Program or the Division of Compact Management at the Office of Statistics, Budget and Economic Management, Overseas Development Assistance & Compact Management (SBOC). Shortly, the FSM Public Information Office will post the entire file with all 10 resolutions on its website at www.fsmpio.fm.