The visit was part of a 12-day official trip to meet U.S. Ambassador Peter A. Prahar and FSM leadership to discuss progress under the amended Compact.
On Thursday, Stayman and Edwards met with FSM Vice President Alik Alik in Palikir. Their discussion focused on the upcoming five-year review of the amended Compact.
The staff members then held a meeting with FSM Speaker Isaac Figir and Sens. Dohsis Halbert of Pohnpei, Paliknoa Welly of Kosrae, and Peter Christian of Pohnpei. FSM congressional legal counsel Lam Dang also attended.
The following day, the staff members held a joint meeting with the FSM Compact Review Committee: Director of the Office of Statistics, Budget, Overseas Development Management and Compact Management Fabian Nimea, Kosrae Rep. Tiser Reynolds, and Pohnpei Rep. Ihlen Joseph.
Stayman and Edwards also held meetings with FSM Department of Health Services acting Secretary Ben Jesse, Department of Education Secretary Casiano Shoniber, Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure Secretary Francis Itimai, Project Management Unit acting program manager Marcelino Actouka,
Postmaster General Midion G. Neth, and Telecommunications Corporation President/CEO Takuro Akinaga.
During each of the meetings, Stayman and Edwards were briefed on issues surrounding the amended Compact five-year review.
For their part, the staff members urged FSM officials to review Compact-Impact and consider how the FSM government can work with the U.S. to mitigate the concerns of some U.S. jurisdictions.
In addition to meetings with the FSM national leadership, the staff members called upon Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa.
Following their meeting with Pohnpei Utility Corporation general manager Feliciano Perman, Stayman and Edwards visited the Nan Pil Hydroelectric Plant in Nett.
They also toured two Compact Infrastructure Sector Grant-funded school projects in Pohnpei.
To round out their visit, Stayman and Edwards met with Micronesia Conservation Trust executive director Willy Kostka. The focus of the meeting was the recently completed biosphere project in Pohnpei, which recognizes Ant Atoll as a biosphere reserve.
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