BRIEFS November 7, 2014 Yap Election Commissioner Apologies To Yapese Voters In Pohnpei COLONIA, Yap (YSEC Press Release/Civic Affairs, Nov. 07, 2014) — The Yap Election Commissioner expresses deep regret and apologizes to registered voters who intended to vote on election day at the Yap State special polling place in Pohnpei. Even though the Election Commissioner relied on information provided by DHL, Yap Office, that sending the ballot box via DHL on October 28, 2014, would reach Pohnpei ahead of the date of election, she takes full responsibility that the box did not arrive in Pohnpei on time. As a result, the Election Commissioner is prevented by law from taking into consideration the ballots, if any, deposited into the box. The Election Commissioner takes the matter very seriously and will, with the assistance of the Yap Office of the Attorney General, look into good measures that can prevent an event of such nature from ever happening again in the future. For more information, please contact the Yap Election Commissioner’s Office at Tel: (691)350-6130. Yap Election Commissioner Clarifies November 6th News Briefs COLONIA, Yap (YSEC Press Release/Civic Affiars. Nov. 07, 2014) – The Election Commissioner would also like to clarify for the public some information that was put onto the News Brief yesterday November 6, 2014; under the article titled, November 04, 2014: Yap State General Election Tabulation Unofficial Tally On Yap Proper Ballot Boxes. On the second to the last paragraph of that article, it states that the Yap State Election Commissioner (YSEC) has also confirmed that two special polling places, namely Pohnpei and Palau, did not receive their ballot boxes in time for the November 4, 2014 election. This statement however; is not true. The box for Palau and Saipan arrived on time and voting has been done in those two special polls. It is only the Pohnpei box that did not arrive as scheduled in time for voting. Again the State Election Commissioner sincerely apologizes for such happenings and she will do all that she can along with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that such will not happen again. For more information, please contact the Yap Election Commissioner’s Office at Tel: (691)350-6130. Colonia Cleanup Held, Contribution to Canoe Fest COLONIA, Yap (Website Office Release - DYCA; November 7, 2014) -- On the morning of Thursday, November 6, 2014, government offices, private sector, and volunteers conducted a general cleanup of Colonia town area focusing on areas from the Administration Building, the Yap Living History Museum, and around Chamorro Bay. The clean up was in part co-organized by the Yap Visitors Bureau and Yap Environmental Protection Agency with the support, sponsorship, and contribution of the public and private sectors, as well as local groups, individuals, and NGOs. The youngest volunteers of the approximately 30 individuals who participated in the Clean Up were Senior Class students of Yap Seventh-Day Adventist School and when the clean up had concluded around mid-day, more than 30 bags of trash and debris had been picked up and removed. The clean up campaign was initiated by the Yap SDA students which ended up growing into a larger effort to beautify Colonia town area, as well as contributing to efforts in preparation for the upcoming 6th Annual Canoe Festival. This years Canoe Festival will be held from Sunday to Monday, November 9-10, 2014. More information on the festival and copies of the festivals schedule are available with the Yap Traditional Navigation Society and at the Yap Visitors Bureau, as well as online on respective Facebook pages and at visityap. The beautification effort will continue on until festival day; as of writing, grass-cutting was taking place around the lagoon. The participants included: * Bank of Guam staff & members * Micronesian Forwarder/CTSI faculty & staff * Yap SDA School senior class & staff * DY&CA personnel * OPB personnel * PW&T personnel * YSPSC staff members * YTNS, Ali Haleyilurs Traditional Navigation Class students & members * WAAGEY students & members * Yap Sanitation Office faculty & staff * ESA Bay View Hotel faculty & staff (Mr. Tilus Alfonso) * Yap HPO personnel * YLHM members * YVB & EPA faculty & staff * JICA Volunteer staff * OAG & Public Safety halfway house members (prisoners) * Community Member, Mr. Martin Also, cleanup would not have been possible without the support and contribution of the following individuals, agencies and organizations: * Bank of Guam - 2 Css. Bottle Waters, Trash Bags * Micronesian Forwarder/CTSI - Bottle waters & Ice * JAA Yap & Beyond the Reef - Cash $20.00 * Sanitation Office & DHS - Vehicle, Latex Gloves and Trash Bags & Cooler, Mosquito Eradication Spray after cleaning at 3:30pm at Old Supply Bldg., YLHM Ground & Community Center * OPA - 2 Boxes Trash Bags * Yap Fisheries Authority - Coolers of Ice * Yap Upward Bound Program - 2 Css. Bottle water, big Box Trash Bags and 1 Box Latex Gloves * Al Ganang, Village View Resort - Cash $20.00 * Yap EPA,YVB & YLHM - Vehicles, Trash Bags, Bottle waters, Cotton Gloves, Coolers, 1-Qtr. of 2 cycle Oil and 20 Gallons Gasoline. * WAAGEY - Traditional Paddling Canoes * PW&T - Vehicle. * FSM Congress Delegation - 3 Cases Bottle water The organizers and participants would like to acknowledge and thank all those who contributed and or participated enabling a successful clean up helping to support our Canoe Day festivities and in keeping our island clean. Yap State In Another Long Weekend In November 2014 COLONIA, Yap (Media Division) — In Yap each year, the month of November is usually full of legal holidays, including the staging of the Annual Yap Canoe Festival. However, this year there was the added excitement of the Yap State General Election held on November 4, 2014. The election took place from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, followed by the tabulation in the evening at the Yap Small Business Development Center. The tabulation went on throughout the evening until the next morning, before the last few ballot boxes were done with counting around 8:30 AM on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Presently, preliminary results which are still unofficial and have yet to be verified by the Office of the Yap State Election Commissioner have placed gubernatorial candidates Team Tony Ganngiyan in the lead, closely followed by Team Henry Falan and lastly Team Charles Chieng. For Election District 1 results, there were 15 candidates on the ballots going into elections, and on election day there were three “write in” candidates. The special polling place at the Colonia Community Center for other election districts in the Neighboring Islands were also counted. For the latest count, visit the Election webpage at yapstategov.org/election.htm. Now with the general election on the side, another busy, long weekend kicks in for the State with the celebration of the upcoming 6th Annual Yap Canoe Festival, slated to take place on Sunday and Monday, November 9-10, 2014. The festival is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM on day one and 9:30 AM on day two. In preparation for this event, the Yap Visitors Bureau led a successful “Cleaning Campaign” around Colonia on November 6, 2014 with several other private sector and government offices joining the cleanup around the lagoon area, which included the Yap Living History Museum site and other areas within the vicinity of downtown. The Canoe Festival will be held over two days and promises to be a fun family event with something for everyone, with the added activity of a “night market” and live performance by Palauan singer Kendall Titiml. Kendall will be performing live around the island during his stay in Yap. Kendall’s live performances are scheduled to take place during the Night Market event at the Colonia Community Center on November 9, 2014, as well as on November 14 and December 1 at the Gacham Bar (contact 7-D for more information on Kendall). The Night Market will begin at 4:00 PM up to midnight, with an opener of traditional sitting dance by the women of Rull, followed by the international canoe paddling awards and wrestling competition, then Kendall’s simultaneous live performance. Monday’s schedule appears to be just as full as day one, with more fun activities with booths set up selling a variety of food, beverages, souvenirs and other festive merchandise. Governor Anefal has stated in his acknowledgment remarks that, “the two-days-one-night Annual Canoe Festival celebration is essentially a time to revisit, demonstrate and educate ourselves of some of the unique and perhaps special cultural heritage practices of the Yapese people as a small island society with its customs, traditions and history of the islands comprising the State of Yap”. Governor Anefal and his Lt. Governor, Tony Tareg, will celebrate this year’s event as their last Annual Canoe Festival as executive leaders of the Yap State Government, as their administration term will come to an end in January 2015. Anefal’s administration has been in office for two consecutive terms starting back in January 2007 and then re-elected into office in 2012. In his closing written statement Governor Anefal went on to say, “I wholeheartedly offer a Kammagar gad salute to the organizing committee and its sub committees, volunteers, sponsors, donors and supporters, who have made this 2014 event, the 6th Canoe Festival, a most memorable reality”. Meanwhile, Tuesday, November 11, 2014 is another national holiday in observance of FSM Veterans of Foreign Wars Day; however, the State of Yap will legally commemorate the event on Monday along with the last day of the 6th Annual Canoe Festival. Conferring Of Honorary Doctorate Degree To FSM President Manny Mori... TOKYO, Japan (FSMIS, Nov. 06, 2014) — A Honorary Degree award ceremony took place yesterday (November 5) at the Sophia University campus in Tokyo on November 5, 2014. The Jesuit university officially undertook its decision to confer the honorary degree to FSM President Mori in honor of his contribution to growth and outstanding service in improving lives, the President of the university said in his brief remark during the ceremony. President Mori expressed appreciation to the institution for its decision and took the opportunity through the ceremony to highlight some high-points in the history of interactive relationships between FSM and Japan. He also recognized Sophia University as an institution of higher learning enjoying regional prestige due to high achievements. [A YouTube video of the ceremony is available on the FSMPIO Blogger, myfsm.blogspot, or directly at youtu.be/MSGR3Czcvzw?list=UUilX_jd_YqqqqTWH8kFr5sw ] 34 Candidates Vie For 14 FSM Congress Seats PALIKIR, FSM (FSM Congress News/MV, Nov. 07, 2014) — The Office of the National Election director has notified the speaker of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia of the names filed for candidacy for the 2015 national elections to seat the 14 members of the 19th FSM Congress. Thirty-four petitions have now been filed as potential candidates for the national elections on March 3, 2015. The names are undergoing the review process for certification and official release. Four petitions are filed for the two seats for the state of Kosrae and they are: At-Large 1. Alik L. Alik 2. Yosiwo P. George, incumbent Two-years 1. Rensley A. Sigrah 2. Paliknoa K. Welly, incumbent For Yap: At-Large 1. Joseph J. Urusemal, incumbent Two-years 1. Isaac V. Figir, incumbent For Pohnpei: At-Large 1. Peter M. Christian, incumbent 2. John Ehsa 3. Selestino Marquez 4. Dion G. Neth 5. Dionisio (Dionis) Saimon For the two-year seats in accordance with the Election Districts: ED.1 1. Dohsis Halbert, incumbent 2. Ferney S. Perman ED.2 1. Goodwin Etsin Estse 2. Berney Martin, incumbent ED.3 1. David W. Panuelo, incumbent For Chuuk: At-Large 1. Gillian N. Doone 2. Wesley W. Simina, incumbent For the two-year seats in accordance with the Election Districts: ED.1 1. Florencio M. Harper, incumbent 2. Able[Epel] Kristoph 3. John E. Sound ED.2 1. Victor “Vicki” Gouland, incumbent 2. Rogers S. Mori 3. Chanser H. Yesiki ED.3 1. Marcellus Akapito 2. Bonsiano F. Nethon, incumbent 3. Elvis Shirai ED.4 1. Tiwiter Aritos, incumbent 2. Hatnat K. Meneky 3. Takamichy Y. Mori ED.5 1. Winiplat A. Bisalen 2. Season S. Jacky 3. Ruphin Micky 4. Robson U. Romolow The 34 potential candidates will be vying for seats in the 19th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia to be convened and organized on May 11, 2015. The new Congress will also seat a new administration for the national government with the selection of a president and vice president from among the 14 members. More information can be obtained from the Office of National Election Director at (691) 320-7805 or email [email protected]. The timetable for the national elections is available on the FSM Public Information website at: fsmpio.fm/ELECTION/2013_Election_TIMETABLE%20_2_.pdf/. US Ambassador Visits Education And Community Leaders In The Mortlocks KOLONIA, Pohnpei (U.S. Embassy in Kolonia, Micronesia/MV, Nov. 07, 2014) — Ambassador Doria Rosen along with Brian Riley, Peace Corps Inter-America and Pacific Region chief of operations, and Robert Reid, Peace Corps Country Director for FSM and Palau visited the Mortlocks in Chuuk State, stopping at six islands in four days. Travel to the islands required flying on a small prop plane to Ta, and then traveling across open ocean in a 21 foot skiff with a 40 hp outboard engine to the islands of Lekinioch, Oneop, Moch, Kuttu, and Satawan. While on the islands they overnighted with local residents, visited Peace Corps volunteers, local schools, community and education leaders, and answered questions from the island residents. Several of the islands had formal welcoming events with a town hall like opportunity for the villagers to ask the ambassador questions. There was considerable concern and misunderstanding about what they referred to as the “end of the Compact.” The ambassador assured them that contrary to what they were voicing, the 2023 funding changes did not mean that the U.S. was terminating the agreement or withdrawing from the region. Riley stated, “This visit was helpful to understand the logistical and transportation challenges faced by Peace Corps Micronesia, and I was impressed by the resiliency of the volunteers and by the close relationships they formed with the peoples of the Mortlocks.” SPREP Says Report Signals Harsh Realities APIA, Samoa (Radio New Zealand International, Nov. 07, 2014) — The head of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme says the latest summary report from thousands of scientists points towards huge climate change challenges. David Sheppard says the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change document highlights global warming by up to four degrees, coral reef destruction, and ocean acidification. He says given the Pacific Ocean makes up 98 per cent of the region and only 2 per cent is land, the projected increasing intensity of extreme weather events and sea level rise are also a real concern. We have four of the five lowest countries and territories on earth; Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tokelau. And their high above sea level is between two to three meters. So a rise of up to one meter is a real disaster. -END- COMMUNITY MESSAGE: We have done our part at the poll already—quite a relief—but a piece in the October 31, 2014, news briefs may be of some use to us, especially the elected. “A Glimpse Into Yap’s Economic Environment”, submitted by Yap Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that the FSM average economic growth in the 1990s was at the rate of 1.8%. And Yap average growth rate was higher than the other FSM states, even the FSM national government at 2.6%. A decade later, 2000s, things were not the same anymore—the FSM growth rate was nearly flat at 0.3% and Yap’s growth rate was averaging 0.1%. The Chamber expressed sadness for Yap, yet the opportunity to build on the 1990s’ efforts could only be a combined effort by the public and private sectors. And we should not be sad at all, unless we, during that decade, gave economic development our honest efforts together. Copyright © 2014 Yap State Government, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or through our email contacts. Our mailing address is: Yap State Government P.O. Box 430 Colonia, FM 96943
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 08:50:39 +0000
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