The other members of the delegation from Yap were Henry Falan, Ray Igechep and Jesse Raglmar Subolmar.
The main purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on national issues including the financial difficulties faced by the nation and some particular states and the need to discuss possible legislative reform of the Social Security System.
In a statement delivered by Sen. Jesse Raglmar Subolmar, during the opening on Monday, the delegation from Yap told the conference that the financial difficulties is not limited to one or two states but that all of the states are experiencing financial difficulties and stagnant economies.
The delegation pointed out Yap is small in population but it is the largest state in the FSM by having the largest ocean space, which has a very costly operation in maintaining and operating a field trip vessel that service the many islands in the state and some of these islands are further away from Yap than Guam is from Yap.
The delegation also told the conference that “in our struggle to keep and maintain balance budget that would support and provide a minimal level of public service and with no additional revenue in sight, we adopted a frugal policy that would always keep the state budget each fiscal year inclusive of supplemental budgets within the estimated revenue issued in the budget call. This is very painful but without new and additional revenue we find no other way.”
On the Social Security issue the delegation said, “Yap State Legislature is cognizant of the urgent need to address the solvency or insolvency of the Social Security System, which we know to be the only retirement program that working men and women in the FSM depend for benefits after they retire.”
The delegation added, “The FSM Congress has passed a Bill which is now P.L. 15-73, to which Yap State Legislature has taken a position and the other sister states have also embraced. And so we hope that in our discussion of possible reform of the Social Security System that we arrive at the solution that addresses the solvency issue and leave the benefits of the recipients intact. [T]he position of Yap state is not inconsistent with the position of the FSM Congress and the Social Security Administration but believe that it is the inherent responsibility and mandatory obligation of FSM Congress and the FSM government to address and solve the solvency issue and not the recipients of social security.”
