Prahar toured the U.S.-funded road project in Weno, and held a joint meeting on the status of the project with representatives from the FSM national government’s Project Management Unit, engineering contractor Lyon Associates and construction company Pacific International Inc. each of whom assured the ambassador that the road project remained on schedule.
$26 million from the amended Compact infrastructure sector grant funds the Chuuk road project.
Prahar paid a courtesy call on Chuuk Gov. Wesley Simina. Their discussion focused on the recent FSM Office of the Public Auditor and Asian Development Bank reports on the Chuuk State Department of Education, and Compact-funded infrastructure projects, including the road project in Weno.
Prahar also met with Chuuk Senate President Mark Mailo, Speaker Florencio Singkoro Harper, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Camillo Noket.
The following day, Prahar paid respects to the late former Speaker Detor Santos at a state funeral.
In addition to meetings with the political leadership, Prahar called on Chuuk Attorney General’s Office, Department of Administrative Services Director Jesse Mori, Compact Funds Control Commission Administrator Alan Burnham, and representatives from Chuuk Public Utility Corp.
Prahar also met with College of Micronesia-Chuuk Campus Director Joakim Peter.
Following a meeting with Chuuk State Department of Education acting Director Sanfio Sony, Prahar toured several school buildings receiving Compact funding.
He also met with Chuuk State Hospital Director Julio Marar, and toured the public hospital.
Marar displayed the use of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment already in use and that the hospital was hoping to expand.
The ambassador also toured the MDR-TB Ward, for which Chuuk’s hospital was previously internationally recognized.
Marar repeated his appreciation for the 2008 visit by the USNS Mercy and the support in establishing the MDR-TB ward.
Simina hosted a reception on the evening of March 24. During the reception, Prahar expressed appreciation for everybody’s hospitality and openness during his inaugural visit to Chuuk.
He also noted that many officials highlighted their concerns regarding the education standards in Chuuk’s public schools.
Prahar stressed that he and others at the U.S. Embassy were prepared to work with those who sincerely sought improvements in Chuuk’s schools.
Prahar rounded out his Chuuk visit by meeting USDA-RD personnel, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, U.S. military veterans, and American citizens residing in Chuuk.
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