Bermin News Network
News and Views of the Federated States of Microneisa
Bermin F. Weilbacher, Editor
Contact: bnnpni@yahoo.com
Links:http://www.pohnpeimet.fm
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IN THE NEWS
****GOVERNOR'S FIRST 100 DAYS REPORTED IN FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE OF HIS SECOND TERM.
(Kolonia, Pohnpei, May 7, 2012)
If you put it all together, it seems the Legislature is holding up a few things that the State needs to move foreward in its effort to develop......Cabinet nominations, Executive Reorganization Bill, Purchase of a Field Trip Ship, School Lunch Program, Tax Legislation, Energy Develolpment...etal.
"Only 5 of the 11 nominees have received Advise and Consent of the Legislature," the Governor reported to the crowd with media representatives, government officials and a few non-government individuals. As we reported earlier, the Governor submitted 8 nominations in January 2012 and 3 were rejected by the Legislature. Approved were (1) Joseph Villazon for Director of Education, (2) Thomas Pablo for Department of Treasury and Administration, (3) Ihlen Joseph for the State Public Auditor, (4) Kadalino Lorens for the Administrator of Economic Affairs, and (5) Epert Mikel for the Administrator of Office of Fisheries and Acquaculture, the only new element of an Executive Organization in the Governor's first term.
Rejected were Lucas Carlos for Deprtment of Public Safety, Dr. Elizabeth Keller for Department of Health Services and Hernet Hadley for Department of Land.
Four more nominees were submitted but only one has been approved...Oliver Johnny, for the State Election Commissioner. Janet Panuelo for Office of Social Affairs, Vincent Rosario for Pohnpei Transportation Authority and Judah Johnny for the Attorney General have not been considered for approval or otherwise and their nominations are still with the Legislature. The Legislature goes into a regular session on May 14, 2012.
The Press Conference was held Radio Live (delayed television) with no limit on attendance or issues to be asked of the Governor.
****HOW MANY WRONGS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT?
The partial report below tells a story of repeated criminal activities that go unpunished because the criminals are part of the government. An agency of the government makes an employment contract with a dozen or so individuals. The contract amount is over and beyond the scope of the powers of the government agency. When questioned by law makers, the response was a casual, "the difference in the amount audthorize by law and the amount in the contract will be offset by funds from another source, which the government agency has not had the authority to tap. Does that answer the question of how or why it happened?
This practice goes on day in and day out in the government, in the community, etc, etc. No wonder why we cannot progress forward. We keep delaying implementation of laws in the (false sense) that the crimes will go away.
Read in the report, "The most important legal principle that shoudl be BORED (emphasis added) into the minds of all decision making bodies of the government is the principle of lack or absence of legal authority..."
"Ultra vires or extra vires"? This is your day..let your meaning be drilled into their brains.....
This extract is part of a Legislative Committee Report in today's special session of the Legislature. May 7, 2012.
****HOW IS IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN WALK INTO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS AND CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS WITHOUT YOU KNOWING IT AND SIMPLY APOLOGIZES FOR SUCH AUDACIOUS INTRUSION?
(Nett District, Pohnpei 5/10/2012) Would you believe it? Two guys acting as representatives of the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organzation) of the United Nations, walked into the restaurant in town, ordered their food, ate it and then complained that the food was not of good quality. They went around the restaurant's employees only areas and grilled the employees about cleanliness, etc--and all the while without the knowledge of the restaurant owner. They claimed they were helping the FSM's food inspection program. When the owner found out, (of course) he was furious and called authorities at the FSM. They merely apologized and said they were doing a field study of a food inspection program with consultants from the FAO. From the looks of it, the FAO guys were probably broke and hungry and used their authority to fill up their stomachs. Real El Cheapo, huh?
****PUC POWER FIASCO CONTINUES.....
Update...5/3/2012 We are back--kind of refreshed from a 2-week vacation in good weather land in the US East Coast. Good for the body and mind and morale but back home, things ain't what we expected.
True there is some improvement with the power mess but a bigger one is looming ahead--NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO HOLD UP THE COUNTRY IF UNCLE SAM CEASE THE FLOW OF COMPACT FUNDS AS HE PROMISED TO DO SO IN 2023..BUT AIN'T THERE ALREADY HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES BY UNCLE SAM IN THESE ISLANDS ????
Update...April 6, 2012 There seems to be a lull in the unscheduled power outages. KNOCK ON WOOD! Of the 2 generators we mentioned earlier, to be donated by CFC, it turned out to be not a casual donation, as we suspected, but "I will donate if you share the cost," concept coming out of CFC. CFC, by the way, was a soup with ingredients from Pohnpei State thru its EDA, FSM Government thru its NFC and Theo Calis of Australia. The shares of NFC was bought by or given to Pohnpei State whereby former Governor David nominated himself to represent Pohnpei's shares in the new company. When he left office, he became somebody in CFC, how high, we don't know but miracles happen with CFC becoming a slave of the Theo Calis board member who was initially brought in by CFC to manage its affairs and who later finagled his way into purchasing the majority shares of CFC. To this day, Pohnpei State does not know how much money is in CFC that belongs to the Pohnpei tax payers.The government does not have grounds to audid CFC because it owns majority shares as a private company, with Pohnpei State being the minority share holder. That being a short story of CFC, now we learned that one of the two generators is already sitting at the Pohnpei dock but it will take time to produce juice out of it--first it import taxes and port feeson need to be paid. Once removed fro, the dock it would need housing, switch gears, upload transformers, etc, etc, that by the time it or the other generator are on line, power customers would have gone berserk over damages to their livelihood, not to mention damages to their equipment.
Funny thing happened during this fiasco tho...during all the rough time that PUC had to ration power, its General Manager left for the Philippines. Most Micronesians go to the Philippines for health reasons.
We will follow up on this issue and others after a short vacation......thanks for staying with us.
Update...March 24, 2012 We will continue to talk about this fiasco until we are assured of steady power for at least 5 years. . It is getting worse with unscheduled power outages anytime, anywhere. We caution power users not to be complacent with the use of appliances and computers during this period of unpredictable power outages.
If the next piece of news is of any consolation.....here it is....CFC is donating 2 each 1.2 megawatt caterpillar generators FREE!! Believe it or not!
And you might ask, "What or who is CFC?" Coming up later....
THE SITUATION PUTS POHNPEI'S EFFORTS TO RELY ON TOURISM AS THE ENGINE OF GROWTH IS DOOMED AS LONG AS PUC IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AS IF BUSINESS IS USUAL.
