Wilson is the commodore of Pacific Partnership 2011, whose flagship, the USS Cleveland, will visit five island nations this summer: Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
On Friday, Wilson and U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Peter A. Prahar traveled to Palikir, where they paid office calls on Vice President Alik Alik, Congress Speaker Isaac V. Figir, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin Robert, Secretary of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure Francis Itimai, acting Secretary of Health and Social Services Ben Jesse, and acting Secretary of Justice Asher Johnson.
In the afternoon, the captain and his delegation called upon Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa, state Speaker Nelson Pelep and Sen. Wincner David.
Wilson also met with Department of Health Services Director Dr. Elizabeth Keller and toured the Pohnpei State Hospital in Liwi, Nett.
Throughout the meetings, Wilson briefed participants on the Pacific Partnership initiative, which is set to include a variety of medical services, small-scale infrastructure projects, subject matter exchanges, and youth outreach.
Although the USS Cleveland will dock in Pohnpei during its visit to the FSM, Wilson is making it a priority for his team to research the feasibility of conducting missions in all four of the states.
Additionally, Wilson requested the senior leadership to compile a list of small-scale infrastructure projects with which the Pacific Partnership crew can assist while in the FSM on July 2-15.
In response, FSM national and Pohnpei state officials expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance to be provided under PP ’11, and look forward to facilitating a successful mission.
Pointing to the lasting achievements of Pacific Partnership 2008, under which the USNS Mercy and its partners provided medical, dental, veterinary, and infrastructure rehabilitation throughout the FSM, Prahar predicted the initiative would serve as a highlight of the U.S.-FSM relations in 2011.
On Saturday, Wilson and Prahar surveyed potential sites for small-scale infrastructure projects in Pohnpei.
