OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR - Yap State Government

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 

Department of Youth & Civics Affairs 

BRIEFS 

March 11, 2010 

NEIGHBORING ISLAND TRADITIONAL COUNCIL CONVENES ITS FIRST 

SESSION DAY 

The Neighboring Islands Traditional Council convened its first Session Day in Yap today, March 

11, 2010 with the presence of all the members except Chairman Ignathio Hapthey who is seeking 

medical attention in Guam and member George Hofaluy who also could not make it to the 

opening for health reason. 

At the opening Acting Chairman of the Council, Chief Ignathius Meitog took the liberty of 

conveying a warm welcome to all members of the State Leadership who were present and 

thanked them for taking the time out of their busy schedule to attend the opening of the 

Council’s meeting. 

In his brief remark, Lt. Governor Tony Tareg also thanked the Council for extending their 

invitations to all the branches of the State Government so they could be there to witness the 

official opening of the Council’s Bi-Annual Session. 

He informed the Council that the Governor is off island attending to other top priority issues at 

the national level and that is why he was not able to join the other state leaders today. The Lt. 

Governor also told the Council that the Governor’s Office will stand ready for their call should 

the Council need to discuss an issue during the course of their meeting. 

Vice Speaker Sabino Sauchomal who represented Speaker Chieng at the Council’s meeting 

shared the same sentiment with Lt. Governor Tony Tareg when he made his statement today. He 

said the Legislature did not have much to share with the Council, however, he said the 

Legislature will wait for their call if the Council has any particular issue to discuss with the 

Legislature. Before concluding his statement Vice Speaker Sauchomal requested that the Council 

to look into the issue of youth problems in the Outer Islands and find the proper way to curb 

them. He said that most youths now a days decide not to go to college after completing high 

schools which could be one contributing factor. 

Chief Justice Manmaw of the Yap State Court also delivered a brief statement at the opening of 

the Traditional Council meeting this morning. At first Chief Justice Manwmaw thanked the 

Divisions & Offices 

Civic Affairs Division Media Division Youth Services Division Historic Preservation Office

Council of Tamol for inviting him to attend this very special undertaking. He concluded with the 

previous speakers by saying the Court does not much to share with the Council at the moment 

but he is willing to discuss matters pertaining to Court issues with the Council should they decide 

to do so. The Chief Justice also informed the Council that he has seen a decrease in number of 

juvenile cases during his three-years in office. He also told the Council that the State Court is in 

the process of developing a book that after completion will be distributed to all the schools in the 

state so it can be included in their curriculum. He explained that the book is designed to teach the 

students all aspects of the law so when they grow up they will understand what is right and what 

is wrong. 

The Chairman of the other Traditional Council, the Council of Pilung Chief Bruno Tharngan has 

sent two representatives to attend the proceedings of the Council of Tamol today. Chief Francis 

Fithingmow and Chief Petrus Beyan are both from the Gagil Municipality. In his brief remark 

this morning, Chief Bayan said that the Council of Pilung will always stand ready to discuss any 

issue with the Council especially the affect the of El-Nino long drought in most of the 

Neighboring Islands of Yap so they can find a solution to it. Chief Beyan urged the Council of 

Tomol to work hand in hand with the Council of Pilung as they have done in the past to find 

better solutions to problems throughout Yap State. Senator Joe Urusemal seconded his feelings. 

Today’s meeting adjourned at 11:30am and will probably resume next week. 

EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR FSM PASSPORTS 

Press Release #0310-24 

The FSM Immigration Office has requested that President Mori sign an Emergency Declaration 

for the procurement of new FSM blank passports. This is in response to a shortage of blank 

passports on hand with the FSM Immigration Office. Without a new supply of passports the 

Immigration Office will no longer be able to issue new passports to FSM citizens, thereby 

jeopardizing travel of FSM citizens outside of the FSM. 

In the last session of Congress, $250,000 was appropriated for the purchase of new passports, so 

the money is available for their purchase, but based on Section 403 of Title 55 of the FSM Code, 

there is a requirement for competitive bidding for contracts regarding the purchase of personal 

property involving $50,000 or more that will cause a delay in the purchase of the passports. The 

signing of the Emergency Declaration effectively waives the bidding requirements for the 

convenience of the government so that it can secure a supplier immediately for the issuance of 

new blank passports. 

Vice President Alik signed the Emergency Declaration for President Mori on March 4, 2010, to 

allow the Immigration Office to secure a supplier of passports and purchase them so that the 

FSM Government can continue to deliver this service to the people of the FSM. 

REGIONAL GATHERING TO MEASURE PROGRESS ON STATUS OF WOMEN 

Press Release #0310-19 



Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia, Friday, 5 March 2010 – 

As delegates from around the world meet at United Nations headquarters in New York for a 

major gathering on the status of women, the Pacific is gearing up for its own conference on the 

advancement of women later this year. 

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will host the 11th Triennial Conference of 

Pacific Women at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia, from 16 to 20 August. 

The Triennial provides the opportunity to gauge progress in gender equality in the region, and 

serves to identify gaps in progress and measures necessary to address them. 

The theme for the 11th Triennial, Progress and prospects: National level implementation of the 

Pacific and Beijing Platforms for Action, ties in with the main theme of the 54th session of the 

UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 54) in New York. 

The Commission (1–12 March) is focussing on reviewing progress on implementation of the 

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPA). This international commitment to gender 

equality, which was adopted at a global conference for women in 1995, highlights key issues 

identified as obstacles to the advancement of women around the world. 

In preparation for this year’s Triennial and building on the work done in the lead up to and 

during CSW 54, SPC has commissioned a study to review the status of national and regional 

implementation of BPA in the Pacific. 

The study is expected to highlight both areas of progress and key gaps. Progress includes 

improved data gathering on violence against women and the elaboration in a few countries of 

laws and policies to eradicate it. Gaps include the absence of an equal voice for women in highlevel 

decision-making, including in national parliaments and regional organisations, and the lack 

of adequate resources, institutional arrangements and political prioritisation for gender equality 

and women’s issues across the region. 

SPC Human Development Adviser for Gender Equality Treva Braun says the Triennial will 

enable Pacific Island countries and territories to take a closer look at the progress they have made 

on implementing BPA as well as the Pacific Platform for Action (PPA), a regional gender 

commitment. 

‘The Triennial will allow us as a region to discuss how we can build on achievements, close 

gaps, overcome challenges and accelerate progress for Pacific women including through greater 

emphasis on political prioritisation of women’s issues and appropriate architecture for gender 

equality at the national and regional levels,’ she says. 

The meeting will be attended by representatives from government ministries and national offices 

for women, civil society organisations and development agencies. It will be held concurrently 

with the 4th Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Women. 

-END-

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR - Yap State Government

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