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Commentaries on Chuuk Political Status Public Hearing in Hilo

On November 25, 2014, two members of the Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC) traveled to Hilo, Hawaii to lead a public hearing with over 60 members of the Chuukese community on Hawaii Island.  Led by Sabino Asor, the Chuuk State Attorney General and Chairman of the CPSC and CPSC Member Winiplat Bisalen who represents the Northwest region and who currently serves as Special Assistant to the Governor on financial matters. The 3-hour public hearing was hosted by the Chuukese Student Association (CSA) from University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College. It was facilitated by Chuukese leader, Sam Nathan, who started by encouraging the participants to be ask questions respectfully honoring our Chuukese culture.

General Commentary:

1. I think the commissioners did a decent job of presenting the pros of Chuuk independence based on the CPSC’s stance.They did a terrible job of presenting any  disadvantages of independence.
2. I am even more fearful for Chuuk. This whole thing is based on some major faulty assumptions, not facts.  The two members of the commission came unprepared with nothing in writing, not even the basic outline of the timeline, and definitely no attempt to educate people on both sides of the issue…the pros and cons of independence. They made assurances of external sources of financial support for an independent Chuuk yet did not produce one single proof or document that back up their claim.
3. My biggest fear now is that the average Chuukese citizen living in cash-poor Chuuk will vote for independence based on the commission’s focus on money as the real reason for seceding from the FSM to seek independence; their major assumption that the US will want a similar Compact like the FSM’s, Palau, and Marshall Islands and an equally disturbing assumption that China will pump money into Chuuk. Of course, when Chuukese politicians talk up money flowing to the hands of Chuukese people, we become blind to the facts and history of fiscal abuse and mismanagement which have impeded progress in our poor State of Chuuk.

Commentary on Specific Issues:

The following are reactions to specific points raised by the Commissioners during their opening statements. It is in the order in which they spoke about them during the course of the hearing.  Please view the video to hear the actual words. In bold are my thoughts.

1. Economic Provision of the Compact will end in 2023: Chuuk wishes to seek its own government to seek its own nation. The CPSC meet and have determined that it’s quicker “Epwe chok mwitir” if Chuuk secedes from FSM and stand on it own.
   Thoughts: What is expedient is not necessarily the right course of action. We cannot afford to do the quickest route to what we hope will end in prosperity of our people. It would be like sending someone learning to navigate out on the open sea without them mastering the placement of the stars, understanding of the currents, and experience in courageous and humble management of companions on a journey (pilo). A pwo (master navigator) does not become one through the quickest way possible; drug dealers on the other hand get rich through the quickest way possible to peddle their goods and ruining lives along the way. 
2. December 2014 end of public hearing; ballot will be on the ballot March 2015. If Chuuk vote Yes, then a Constitutional Convention will be convened to write a new Chuuk Nation constitution and choose the form of government.
   Thoughts: Where will the money come from to finance this major undertaking? There is no money in the Compact allocations earmarked for this so it would have to be from local revenue. What existing services will be sacrificed so Chuuk can fund the election of the Constitutional Convention, their salaries, transportation, meals, the inevitable pompous celebrations, etc.
3. Chuuk Nation will negotiate its own alliances with nations around the world just like the FSM.
   Thoughts: The assumption of the CPSC is that countries including the United States will want to ally with Chuuk Nation. Given our track record with mismanaging Compact funding, why would the US or its allies want to align themselves with Chuuk? If China is the only country that wants to ally with Chuuk Nation and they want certain lands or islands in return, will Chuuk Nation agree out of desperation for money? I’m afraid so.
4. Commission believes this is the best for Chuuk people beyond 2023. It’s been years since we’ve been in the federation. We’ve seen all the pros and cons of the federation…we believe we can do it. We have Chuukese who have been presidents, ambassadors, accountants, secretary of finance, etc…all the positions that will help us stand on our own.
   Thoughts: Yes, Chuuk State has been part of the federation. Yet, Chuuk’s political leaders have squandered all the knowledge, goodwill, and funding allocated to build up Chuuk. Chuuk State received the most money from the federation and Compact funding, yet it is the worst in the federation in terms of progress.
5. The current structure of the FSM does not help Chuuk.
   Thoughts: That’s right, the federation was formed to support all four states, not one state over the expense of the other states. We are a nation of 4 states. The “structure” of the nation that the commissioners talked about had to do with money that can come to one state…Chuuk. They failed to point out the positive elements of the union, the need for all four states to remain together, to swim or sink together, to unite our voices as one and work together for a more unified and strong voice globally, to support each other when one state needs it (e.g. Chuuk’s deficit getting help by FSM). It was tiring to hear the one-sided view of secession…like the problem child wanting more money.
   
6. FSM Constitution was written in 1975, mostly by members of the Palauan delegation, but in the end they left us to form their own nation. Thy specifically put into the FSM Constitution that the President should be chosen by the Congress, not by the people because of fear of the more populated Chuuk will always win the election.
   Thoughts: This is an uncalled attack on the Chuukese leaders who helped formed the FSM. They assume our Chuukese leaders failed to speak up on what was good for the unity of the federation. Those leaders valued unity; our Chuukese leaders now want separation to control more money. Greed?
7. If Chuuk were a nation, we’d have 8 Chuukese presidents by now rather than the 2 we have had since we became FSM til today.
   Thoughts: Why focus on Chuukese presidents when there’s been Chuukese governors all these years. Except for the late Governor Aten and the earlier congressmen, why haven’t we improved things in Chuuk with all the billions of $ given to Chuuk? We want more money, but we have not shown a good history of using that money wisely for the betterment of Chuuk. Now we want more money to squander?
8. FSM Congress Voting Process – 1st vote all 14 congressmen, 2nd vote by the at-large senators. It would have benefited Chuuk if we were voting by ourselves.
   Thoughts: That would be democracy working. What about the fact that Chuuk has the largest delegation in congress yet they have squandered funds for “public projects” to improve their electability. Being independent does not necessarily solve the “problem” of the more populated states getting more votes. It will be the same structure if we become a nation and the municipalities become States. The more populated regions or municipalities in Chuuk will always have more voting power. 
9. Tax Reform – Chuuk wanted the tax reform, but other States voted it down. Chuuk would have benefited greatly from the Tax Reform, but they were prevented from benefiting because the other states did not vote for it.
   Thoughts: Tax Reform and most (if not all) of the financial reform efforts by President Mori have been opposed by the all powerful Chuuk delegation in the FSM Congress. How can the other states be blamed for the failure of the Chuuk delegation to support the President’s attempt to do what is good for the entire nation? Greed?
10. Chuuk laws established the Chuuk Political Status Commission in 2012 It’s not an initiative that was thought up overnight project, but the result of many meetings and consultations.
    Thoughts: If the commission was established in 2012, then why weren’t there public hearings since 2012. Why are these public hearings now just happening 3-4 months before the March election when the commission has independently elected to put it on the ballot? Is this another case of lack of leadership or unethical leadership practice?
11. 5 Gifts from China ($5 million each) were for Chuuk, but FSM divided them up among the FSM states.
    Thoughts: The commissioners did not specify what were these 5 monetary gifts from the Chinese government specifically for Chuuk State that the FSM national government supposedly divided up among the four States. Or were these five gifts to the FSM that Chuuk State wished it were for Chuuk State only?
12. Original framers of FSM Constitution created FSM as bridge between FSM and USA. Now the FSM President “a nemeni” (rule) the State governors. Before the governors decided, helped by “atawei”  the FSM President. Today it is no longer the case.
    Thoughts: It would have been helpful to know specific examples of how President Mori or all the other previous presidents have ruled the State governors. It would have been better for the Chuukese audience to be reminded that the FSM President Mori helped Chuuk State by wiping away its debt through funding from the national government? Who will come to our aid when we sink ourselves into more debt?
13. Currently Chuuk State operational budget totals $27 Million. $20 million comes from Compact, $7 from local revenue. According to Bisalen,  “Mi wenenen watte moni epwe tongeni feito ngeni Chuuk ika si independent” (there’s plenty of money that will come to Chuuk if we become independent). He used the examples of the fishing rights in Chuuk economic zone. Currently, $40 million goes to FSM from fishing companies to fish in the FSM waters; $0 of that money goes to States according to Bisalen. “Ai chok nuku ika sipwene pwisin uuta, pwata esopw ne pwisin no ngeni kich” (If we are  independent, why wouldn’t the money from fishing rights come to us Chuuk directly?) If $40 million is divided up equally among the 4 states that’s $10 million each including Kosrae State which is the smallest of the four states.
    Thoughts: How can the commissioner make such ridiculous assurances of external funding from foreign investment when there is no actual proof, research, facts, data backing up this claim that money will pour into an independent Chuuk Nation? It would have been better for the audience if the commission has actual figures based on actual studies and not on dreams. Dreams cannot pay for government services.
14. According to Bisalen, $7 million from local revenue can be much more except that tax laws were made by FSM which requires that half of taxes collected in the States go to FSM. If Chuuk becomes independent, all taxes…”about $10 million” will go directly to Chuuk.
    Thoughts: The math does not add up. Maybe this is part of our financial woes in Chuuk…we fail in our simple addition. $20 million comes from Compact funding plus $7 million from local revenue (half of it goes to FSM). Provided Chuuk actually will manage to collect all taxes that will be $14 million local revenue.  $27 -$14 = $13. Where will the $13 million come from if we can only generate a total of $14 million in local revenue?
15. “Mei pwan chommong, chommong…me nukun monien US” (There’s also lots of money besides the US funds available to us).
    Thoughts: Is the CPSC being promised some economic package deal from nations besides the US? Why aren’t the commissioners upfront about where these money will come from? Or are they simply bluffing the United States to get more money out of the US lest the Chinese government takes over Chuuk? I think it’s wrong for the commissioners to make these empty promises of external sources of funds for an independent Chuuk Nation without actually identifying these sources.
16. Palau is rich today, but we were the same in the TTPI. They don’t have the same government like the FSM…they keep all their money…they deal with other countries directly…keeping all money…not give to a national government like FSM.
    Thoughts: Palau is exactly like the FSM today; they have a national government in Koror that deal with the world and govern like the FSM. And they have States like in the FSM. All villages and some islands are states…just like like the FSM. Of course the national government of the Republic keep funds to operate their government. If Chuuk State becomes Chuuk Nation, of course, there needs to be a national government.
    
17. “Palau has 5 planes; why do we only have 1 plane?” Thoughts: What? Palau owns 5 airlines? And FSM owns 1 airline? Now Chuuk Nation wants to chase Palau and own 6 airlines? I don’t even know where and why the commissioners get their ideas from that Palau owns 5 airline companies.
18. When we were students, we (Sabino and Winiplat) were not beaten (academically) by the Palauan students. But why is Palau well off now than Chuuk when they are people, we are people. Thoughts: Could it be because they have strong leaders who care about the people of Palau? Or could it be because they’re united as a nation and not corrupt or greedy as Chuukese politicians are in the FSM Congress and now this Chuuk Nation?
19. Money that is coming to Chuuk is plentiful (“mei watte, fokkun watte”). Thoughts: Prove to us by producing an independently verifiable report and documents of assurances from countries that have committed to support Chuuk Nation financially. Don’t just give us empty promises and hopes without backing them up with facts. Dreams cannot pay for government services.

Last Words…

I don’t think you’ll find any living Chuukese citizen who does not support a stronger and more prosperous Chuuk…whether it is an independent nation or a state within the FSM. Chuukese people are some of the most intelligent, wise, caring, strong willed, fiercely loyal people in the world. We want the best for ourselves and our island communities. We want what will benefit our children, families, clans, islands. Of course deep down we want a Chuuk that can stand on its own as we have always done before colonizers arrived uninvited on our shores. We want to reclaim our dignity as a people without the coercion of foreign money, the empty promises of a better tomorrow in another foreign country, and the domination of another culture over our own Chuukese culture and identity. We want peace and justice for the wars that were fought over the islands and ocean that we never relegated to others except by fears of losing our lives. We want to be free to be ourselves as a united Chuukese people. And we want to be part of the formation of a better Chuuk.

Sadly, this commission is asking us Chuukese citizens to rush into choosing YES over NO without doing adequate research and education on the pros and cons of the decision. Instead they are doing what Chuukese politicians are best at doing…promising good things to come (specifically money) IF people elect them into office. The politicians on the Chuuk Political Status Commission and all the Chuuk State Legislators who blindly support this effort are banking on Chuukese citizens to once again blindly trust their judgement, dreams, hopes, and desires even when these have no basis on facts or reality. The average Chuukese citizen who thinks of politicians as sources of cash handouts may well see this move as that…more money for politicians means more money for them. For others who are beyond trusting politicians with more money, this is more than money. It is about trust and there is a real lack of trust in the integrity of the politicians right now in our history.

For me (and yes only my own), this move to secede from the FSM and become an independent nation is devoid of reality. It is based on a few politicians who think money will solve our deep rooted social, political, educational, cultural problems in Chuuk. They think that somehow if we get more money we will change overnight and become ethical stewards of other nation’s money. They seem to forget that the economic provision of the Compact was there to help ALL Chuukese, not the few congressmen, senators, representatives and their supporters who are benefiting right now. So, Chuuk, please think twice about following your politicians to the edge of Suicide Cliff. Think thrice about drinking from the cooler of empty promises for a better and peaceful paradise of Guyana proportion. And definitely don’t blindly get one anyone’s canoe to sail beyond the reef if that someone has not even mastered the coral outcrops inside the reef.

Met Mefiom?

Chuuk’s Independence…From What, For What?

All of a sudden there is a flurry of activities about a movement in Chuuk to secede (separate) from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to become an independent nation. Initial review of the documents  (see below) coming out of the Legislature-appointed Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC) has me feeling uneasy about this.

I’m not sure if it’s the sight of so many politicians on the commission or the absence of grassroots representation of women, youth, educators, traditional leaders, or the diaspora that has me weary. Or is it because many of the people pushing for this were the same folks that unsuccessfully pushed for Faichuk region to secede from the FSM to become a State?

I don’t know…maybe I’m overly sensitive after hearing these same leaders complain that the United States is meddling in our sovereignty whenever the OIA folks want fiscal accounting / responsibility for Compact funds that our own Chuukese leaders have squandered on “public projects” (aka campaign handouts) for so many years.

Perhaps I’m just not ready to think about independence from the United States so we can sell our soul to the Chinese government with their terrible track record with human rights. But I think our leaders will negotiate away our rights for money. Remember Ting Hong? We gave them free passes so they can use their per seiners fishing boats to scoop up whatever was in their way and now we’ve practically depleted our tuna population. And where has that gotten us?

Or maybe I’m too overly sensitive to the fact that it’s October 2014 and the commission is pushing to put a referendum on the March 2015 general election ballot without adequate public education. Or is it because their own consultant in a memo to the commission thinks it’s a bad idea to leave out the voice of the Chuukese citizens living abroad?

Maybe if Chuuk was advanced in its educational systems, less corrupt, and filled with inspirational leaders who bring out the best in us as Chuukese, then I may be open to seceding from the FSM. Until that happens, I have no trust in the current leadership on the Commission that they have our best interest in sight.

I’m open to listen and dialogue with members of the CPSC in their public hearings if they ever make it to Hilo, HI. For now here are some initial reasons why I’m very skeptical. I raise them here now with the hope that people can ask them at the public hearings:

1) CHUUK: The Commission is playing with people’s emotions when they talk about us as a people, our indigenous rights, our freedom as a Chuukese people. Every reason given for why Chuuk should be independent is filled with emotional appeals and very little with research data and independently verifiable feasibility study based on today’s global reality.

As a Chuukese, I find my heart moved with emotion to be free and self-empowered. Of course we all want to claim our own place in the world, to negotiate our own political relations with the global community. Yet the rational part of my brain tells me…why do these people on the Commission think that all the problems we already face in Chuuk today based on misuse of public funds by congressmen, lack of visionary leadership locally, abuse of power by elected officials, lack of educational reform, disempowerment of Chuukese women and youth, unfinished road projects, underserved outer island municipalities, and on and on…all will change overnight when we become a nation?

My brain screams, “whose interest are these people looking out for?” Who will ultimately benefit from independence? Who will suffer greatly if we become a nation of corrupt political leadership? If our leaders cannot handle our affairs now as a state in the FSM, how the hell will they be able to lead us as a nation? We are where we are now not because we are being suppressed by any other nation, but because our own leaders have screwed things up. If we cannot build decent schools for our children given all the millions of dollars that are returned to the US government, how can we expect to change overnight?

Yes, I love Chuuk, but I hate the greedy politicians who currently run our government. I love Chuuk, but I hate the way our politicians readily blame others for our own decisions or indecisions. I do love my Chuuk, but I cannot stand how the islands in the lagoon enjoy most of the government services at the expense of the outer islands. I really love my fellow Chuukese people, but I dislike incompetent and greedy leaders who promise the world to the people during campaign seasons and feed our people’s mouth more than their brain and hearts.

2) INDEPENDENCE: Have we forgotten our own history and the sweat of those founding fathers of the FSM? Those wise leaders (Tosiwo Nakayama, Anton Amaraich, John Mangefel, Pedrus Mailo, Raymond Setik, giants in their times who fought for our independence from the United States. They worked tirelessly so we can enjoy the freedom of electing our own leaders. Unfortunately, we’ve also witnessed some of the worst kind of leaders who have squandered billions of Compact money for their own pet “public projects.” We are a free people because of the work of those wise and courageous leaders.

Have we really forgotten the significance of May 10, 1979…the day WE as a people of the FSM represented by our founding fathers gained our independence through the ratification of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia? We are already independent. We elect our own leaders. We choose our own government. We are free to go anywhere without the United States restricting our movement except for the normal immigration laws that protect all borders.

3) FROM WHAT? If we are already a free people as part of the nation of FSM, free to travel, free to live our lives on our own terms, then from what are these leaders claiming we are still bound? Sure, there’s plenty of rhetoric and nationalistic, patriotic statements of the Chuukese people needing to be free from the meddling fingers of the United States government.

The last time I checked the political leaders of Chuuk travel in and out of Chuuk more than the average Chuukese. They use our public funds to roam free. No one is impeding their travels or their freedom of speech. It is embarrassing that while other grassroots movements around the world are fighting for the basic human rights to be free from violent oppressive regimes, our Chuukese politicians and their supporters are fighting to be free to spend someone else’s money on their own little projects to ensure their electability.

4) FOR WHAT? What these politicians really mean is that the US government should not keep Chuukese politicians from doing whatever the hell they are doing with the Compact money that the US gives to the FSM. What these greedy leaders want is more freedom to spend public funds without anyone including the US government keeping us fiscally responsible for it. What these greedy politicians want is freedom to fool other rich nations to entrust us with money but keep their hands off it so we can do what we (they) please with it.

Which nation in their right frame of mind would want to give money to Chuuk given our track record with the Compact funds? Which allied country of the United States would dare forfeit their national interest to support a Republic of Chuuk that is practically proposing to flip a finger at Uncle Sam?

Think about it, Chuuk. No bank invests in a business plan that has no guaranteed return on the investment. What bank will dare give money to an individual who continuously makes unwise and unethical spending decisions on the money. This is pretty much what the Commission is proposing. Perhaps they are bluffing the US to keep their hands off the rest of Compact funds lest Chuuk negotiates with the Chinese government. Whatever the real reasons, I have yet to find. I do look forward to the day that I can sit in one of these public hearings and ask the members of the commission all my questions.

5) QUESTIONS: Now the logistical questions that are not answered in any of the documents released by the CPSC:

• What currency will the Republic of Chuuk use? If the US dollar, then what’s point of becoming independent when we’ll be right back to where we are now…dependent on the mighty US dollar?
• What postal system or passport will we use?
• Where will the national government be located?
• What money will build that capitol? On whose lands will the national government offices be located?
• Can we afford to have an office in New York for our ambassador to the UN?
• How will the Chuuk national government pay for our diplomatic corp including embassy and consulate offices, staff, travel expenses, in Washington DC, New York, China, Guam, Hawaii?
• What military force will protect our Chuuk national security?
• Where will an independent Chuuk get the money to purchase our own patrol boats to protect our territorial waters which are now done by FSM with aid from other countries?
• Where will Republic of Chuuk get the funds to pay for public education?
• What will happen to the Chuukese citizens living in the United States with regards to their immigration status when we are no longer FSM citizens?
• How will the Chuuk national government issue Chuukese citizens abroad the Republic of Chuuk passport to replace the FSM passport when they cannot travel on an invalid FSM passport?
• What is the CPSC’s plan for the Chuukese citizens legally working in the US protected by the FSM Compact with the USA when Chuuk separates from the FSM without a compact of its own?

7) COMMISSION’S DOCUMENTS: I invite you to download these documents from the commission and review them thoroughly to form your own opinion.

• “Beyond the Compact – Official Newsletter “
• “End of Compact – What Chuukese Should Know “
• “Independence For Chuuk – By Oneisom“
• “Public Hearing – Agenda for Discussion“

UPDATES & FURTHER READINGS: January 2015: Please read the following articles and opinions on the Chuuk independence movement as posted on chuukstate.org

• Why Chuukese Citizens Living in the US Should be Alarmed
• CPSC Final Report Receives F- Grade in Reality
• FSM President Mori Opposes Chuuk independence
• Suicidal Consequences of an Independent Chuuk on Chuukese People

PREL is hiring a consultant for Chuuk DOE…again?

The education consultant who was hired in September to reside in Chuuk and guide the on-going implementation of the Chuuk Education Reform Plan (CERP) has quit. Unconfirmed reason: frustrations. His sudden departure is a setback in an already problematic and painfully slow implementation of the CERP. The stakeholders; namely, the Pacific Resources for Education & Learning (PREL), Department of Education (DOE), the Chuuk Board of Education (CBOE), the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), and more importantly the children of Chuuk State are without the consultant to help with the CERP implementation. Luckily,  Myjolynne Kim, the Chuukese member of that 2-person consulting team is reportedly staying on.

Job Openings at Chuuk DOE

The Chuuk State Department of Education has undergone some much needed and welcomed change. The most important change has been the passage of a law in the Chuuk State Legislatures restructuring DOE and making it independent of the Public Service Commission (PSC). By doing so the department is now able put all employees including teachers, principals, central staff, and support staff on contracts without having to go through the politically cumbersome PSC. Hopefully, this new structure will strengthen the department’s ability to hire and fire employees who are not doing their job. Time will tell if this new structure will help improve our schools and reform efforts. For now, our State needs to fill the following positions in the central office on Weno as well as the two regional centers for Northern Namoneas and Faichuk. If interested, download the job announcements and apply:

• Chief of Administration & Personnel
• Chief of Planning
• Chief of School Support
• Human Resources Officer
• Associate Director – Northern Namoneas Regional Center
• Associate Director – Faichuuk Regional Center

Chuuk Reform Movement blog reactivated!!!

Dear Friends,

The CRM blog is back online picking up where we left off in 2009. You might wonder why I made the decision to put the blog on hiatus.  Long story short, but the blog was taking up more of my time than I anticipated. With a growing family I had less and less time and energy in the day to devote to the blog. I also was feeling that I needed to DO more back in Chuuk and talk less from afar. In a way I felt that I needed time to walk the talk.  I was also feeling the need to help my own people in the outer islands particularly the Northwest region. Something had to give way for other initiatives to bloom.  So in 2009, I decided to put the blog on hiatus while I focused on the following initiatives:

Chuuk Women’s Council Announce New Website and Women’s Interest Facility

CRM acknowledges the Chuuk Women’s Council (CWR) on their active leadership role in our beloved Chuuk. We are happy to announce that Mrs. Stinnett will be regularly posting news and updates from Chuuk “so that people interested in activities in Chuuk will know that there is a very active women’s organization here.”

• Our major project at this time is the creation of the Shinobu M. Poll Memorial Building in Nepukos Village, behind the Bank of Guam. You may or may not know but my mother (Shinobu) passed away this past February and she donated this property to the Chuuk Women’s Council (CWC) for the purpose of constructing a Women’s Interest Facility.  We are in the process of seeking funding for this building which we anticipate will cost around $400,000 to build.
• We just recently got our own website, the result of funding from Japan, and it has been up only for a week.  We hope to improve on it but, it’s a start. A review of our website will show that we’ve received numerous grants from such donors as the U.S., Australian AusAid, Japan, and other independent organizations. For more information, visit our website: www.cwcfiinchuuk.org
• I am traveling to Palau tomorrow for a Pacific Diabetes Council Meeting and from there, directly to China on a Chinese Government sponsored trip for the Chuuk Chamber of Commerce. I will return to Chuuk on June 29th but will check a yahoo address (kikistinnett@yahoo.com) while traveling.

Your website is very impressive and congratulations for a job well done.

Regards,
Kiki

Chuuk Tube: Fun Chuukese Choir

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Chuukese Fun Choir“, posted with vodpod

Australia Sends a Team of Doctors to Chuuk State Hospital

Press Release #0609-21: Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
June 9, 2009

An Australian funded Laparoscopy team of one surgeon, one anesthetist and one nurse will be on hand at the Chuuk State Hospital conducting life-changing surgeries under the AusAID funded Tertiary Health Service to the Pacific Island Countries program or “PIP” for short. The team arrives today, June 9th and will stay until June 20th, 2009.