Alik described Nahnmwarki Artui, who served as chairman of the Pohnpei council of paramount chiefs for many years, as a very special kind of traditional leader.
“Nahnmwarki Artui was not an elected official during the final days of the Trust Territory government,” Alik said, “but he was well known and deeply respected by all who served in public office during that era of our history. When called upon to address the challenge of raising the hopes of his people for self-government, he boldly stepped forward to meet that challenge, serving in each of the constitutional conventions for his country, for his state and for his municipality. When Nahnmwarki Artui spoke, people listened for his voice was the voice of wisdom and reason.”
Alik noted Pretrick’s “career as the central figure in our nation’s efforts to ensure the health and safety of our citizens,” and “his leadership in bringing our youth into the international arena of the world Olympics.
Pretrick, he added, “will always be remembered as a true statesman. He never was elected to political office. He never aspired to wealth or power. He only lived to serve, and serve he did.”
According to the vice president, “The two stamps commemorate the lives of two very important and prominent men in the history of our nation. It is with great pleasure, but also with a feeling of true reverence and deepest respect, that we are officially declaring their issuance.”
