By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

THE leaders of the CNMI, Guam, Yap and Palau will gather here today for the opening of the three-day 7th Micronesian Chief Executives Summit.
CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, the chairman of this year’s summit, will give the welcoming remarks.
Fitial will join Guam Gov. Felix Camacho, Yap Gov. Sebastian Anefal and Palau President Tommy Remengesau in discussing pressing regional issues.
Fitial is expected to lead discussion on regional cooperation to address the soaring price of imported fuel.
During the previous summit, island leaders were told that the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Energy were working to update the 1982 territorial energy assessment program.
Based upon the assessment, each insular area may get as much as $2 million to finance their renewable energy programs through the Insular Areas Energy Assistance Program.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen is expected to arrive today in time for the summit.
The four island leaders signed a communiqué last year stating that: “The chief executives recognize that the development of renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels has become a critical issue due to the rapid increase in fuel prices in the region…. Unlike the areas of solid waste management and invasive species…teamwork between the member states on issues of renewable energy has been very limited and needs improvement.”
Today, there will be presentations about environmental and labor problems in the Western Pacific region.
The presentations will continue on Wednesday.
The CNMI government has asked the private sector to help host the summit’s delegates.
Fitial’s former employer, Tan Holdings Corp., will host today’s welcoming reception dinner at the Fiesta Resort & Spa.
Bank Pacific and Duty Free are sponsoring the delegates’ lunch at the Bund, a Chinese restaurant.
Tomorrow, their lunch will be sponsored by Mobil, one of only two fuel suppliers in the CNMI.
The Marianas Visitors Authority and the Commonwealth Ports Authority are sponsoring the delegates’ dinner tomorrow.
The administration said the delegates will provide their own dinner on Thursday.
“Dinner on your own (open for participants to enjoy the Street Market Festival in front of the Fiesta Resort & Spa),” according to the summit’s agenda.
The regional summit was originally scheduled to start on Wednesday but was moved up to today to allow delegates time to attend the state funeral of Palau Senate President Johnny Reklai who died last week at 58.
The funeral will be held at Palau’s new Capitol in Melekeok state.