ABOUT THE FSM
NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an independent, sovereign nation made up of the four states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap which are a group of
approximately 607 small islands in the Western Pacific lying just above the equator about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii and about 1,800 miles north of eastern Australia above Papua New Guinea. The FSM comprises part of what was generally known as the Eastern and Western Caroline Islands.
While the FSM's total land area is quite small and amounts to approximately 270 square miles, it occupies more than one million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. It ranges from Kosrae furthest to the East, then to Pohnpei, Chuuk, and finally to Yap furthest to the West, with a length of over 2,000 miles. Each of the four States is centered around one or more main high islands, and all but Kosrae includes numerous outlying atolls.
Chuuk, formerly known as Truk, has a land
area of about 49.2 square miles and includes seven major island groups. Pohnpei, formerly known as Ponape, has about 133.4 square miles of land. Almost all of that total is accounted for by Pohnpei island, the largest in the FSM. Pohnpei also includes the outlying island groups of Pingelap, Mokil, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi. Yap is made up of 4 relatively large islands, 7 small islands, and 134 atolls, with a total land area of about 45 square miles. Kosrae, formerly known as Kusaie, is essentially one high island of 42.3 square miles.
The FSM enjoys a tropical climate, with relatively even, warm temperatures throughout the year. Rainfall is generally plentiful, and Pohnpei reputedly is one of the wettest places on Earth, with certain locations receiving up to 330 inches of rain per year.
The FSM was formerly a part of the Trust Territory
of the Pacific
Islands (TTPI), but formed it's own constitutional government on May 10, 1979. Other neighboring island entities, and also members of the TTPI, formulated their own constitutional governments and became the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau (ROP). The Northern Mariana Islands opted to become a commonwealth of the United States and became the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The FSM is an independent, sovereign nation with a seat in the United Nations.
The FSM National
Capitol is located in Palikir, Pohnpei, where the Office of the FSM
President, the FSM Supreme Court, and the FSM Congress are
located.
The President and Vice President, who head the Executive Branch, are elected by the members of the
FSM Congress, from among the four-year Senators, and the vacant seats are then filled in special elections. The Executive Branch has the duty to execute the laws and administer national government services. See, Art. X of the FSM Constitution.
The Judicial Branch of the National Government is composed of the FSM Supreme Court, comprised of Justices who sit in trial and appellate divisions. At this time there are no other National courts. Justices are nominated by the President for a lifetime appointment and confirmed by the Congress. The job of the judicial branch is to interpret the constitution and laws of the nation. See, Art. XI of the FSM Constitution.
The state
governments under their constitutions are
structurally similar, all utilizing three co-equal branches of government, the executive, legislative and judicial. Each of the state constitutions contain provisions recognizing and preserving local custom and tradition.
The FSM entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States on November 3, 1986.
The Compact provides for continuous close ties to the United
States through mutual obligations and fiscal assistance agreed to in
that agreement. Certain provisions of the Compact of Free Association,
most notably the economic provisions, were amended in 2004. The documents relating to these amendments can be found at the FSM Joint Committee on Compact Economic
Negotiations website.
The national
government leaders and some key staff are as follows:
Executive Branch |
|
President: |
H.E. Wesley W. Simina |
Vice President: |
Hon. Aren B. Palik |
Chief of Staff: |
Mrs. Jane Chigiyal |
Acting Secretary; Department of Justice: |
Hon. Jeffrey S. Tilfas |
Assistant Attorney Generals: |
Leonito Bacalando Jr., Esq. |
Nixon Alten, Esq. |
Josephine Leben James, Esq. |
Josephine Joseph Silem, Esq. |
Robert Nakasone Jr., Esq. |
Marisha Jones |
Johnson Asher |
Acting Secretary Department of Foreign Affairs: |
Hon. Brendy Carl |
Deputy Secretary: |
|
Ambassador to United State: |
|
Deputy Chief of Mission: |
|
Legal Counsel: |
Mr. James T. Stovall III, Esq. |
Ambassador to United Nation: |
Hon. Jeem S. Lippwe |
Deputy Chief of Mission: |
[VACANT] |
Ambassador to Japan: |
H.E. John Fritz |
Deputy Chief of Mission: |
Hon. Roger Mori |
Ambassador to Fiji: |
[VACANT] |
Deputy Chief of Mission: |
Hon. Wilson Waguk |
Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China: |
H.E. Vincent Sivas |
Deputy Chief of Mission: |
Hon. Francis Anefal |
Counsel General, Hawai'i: |
Hon. Henry Shrew |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Mr. Wyner Louise |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Mr. Sas Gouland |
Counsel General, Guam: |
Hon. Teresa M. Filipen |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Mr. Johnny Silbanuz |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Mr. Clayton Elieisar |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Ms. Joan Marar |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Ms. Sylvia Elias |
Counsel General, Portland Orgon: |
Hon. Joe-Silem B. Enlet |
Foreign Service Officer: |
Mr. Dominic Maluchmai |
Foreign Service Officer: |
[VACANT] |
Acting Secretary Department of Finance & Administration: |
Hon. Sohs John |
Assistant Secretary Customs & Tax: |
Mr. Randy Sue |
Assistant Secretary Treasury: |
Vacant |
Assistant Secretary Investments: |
Ms. Senny Phillip |
Assistant Secretary Budget: |
|
Acting Secretary Department of Resources & Development |
Hon. Florian Yatilman |
Assistant Secretary, Division of Statistics: |
Ms. Brihmer Johnson |
Acting Secretary Department of Health & Social Affairs: |
Hon. Moses Pretrick |
Acting Secretary Department of Education: |
Hon. Wayne Mendiola |
Assistant Secretary, Division of Formal and Non-Formal Education: |
|
Assistant Secretary, Division of Quality & Effectiveness : |
|
Acting Secretary Department of Transport, Communication & Infrastructure (TC&I): |
Hon. Glenn Harris |
Assistant Secretary, Communication Division: |
|
Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Division: |
Mr. Dickson Wichep |
Acting Secretary Department of Environmental and Emergency Management: |
Mrs. Cynthia H. Ehmes |
Assistant Secretary, Environment Division: |
|
Acting Director Office of Nat'l Archives, Culture & Historic Preservation: |
Mr. Augustine Kohler |
Acting Director FSM Nat'l Election Office: |
Hon. Ausen T. Lambert |
Deputy Director: |
Ms. Esmeralda M. Panuelo |
Pohnpei State National Election Commissioner: |
Mr. Ioanis M. Sahm |
Chuuk State National Election Commissioner: |
Mr. Justo Lokopwe |
Yap State National Election Commissioner: |
Mr. John Chugen |
Kosrae State National Election Commissioner: |
Mr. Henry Robert |
Acting Director FSM Office of Personnel |
Mr. Edigar Likaneth |
Post Master General FSM Postal Service: |
Hon. Juliet Jimmy |
Legislative Branch (21st Congress) |
|
Speaker : |
Hon. Esmond B. Moses |
Vice Speaker : |
Hon. Robson U. Romolow |
Floor Leader: |
Hon. Quincy Lawrence |
Chairman of Committee on Judiciary & Government Operations (J & GO): |
Hon. Tiwiter Aritos |
Chairman of Committee on Ways and Means (W & M): |
Hon. Issac V. Figir |
Chairman of CommitteE on Resources & Development (R&D): |
Hon. Peter M. Christian |
Chairman of Committee on Health & Social Affairs (H & SA): |
Hon. Perpetua S. Konman |
Chairman of Committee on Education: |
Hon. Joseph J. Urusemal |
Chairman of Committee on Transportation and Communication (T & C): |
Hon. Victor (Vicky) Gouland |
Chairman of Committee on External Affairs (Ext. Aff.): |
Hon. Paliknoa K. Welly |
Chairman of Special Committee on Climate Change: |
Hon. Merlynn Abello-Alfonso |
Other Members: |
Chuuk State: |
Hon. FLorencio (Singkoro) Harper Hon. Fabian S. Nimea |
Kosrae State: |
Vacant |
Chief Clerk: |
Jessica Reyes |
Assistant Chief Clerk |
Mr. Atarino Helieisar |
Legislative Counsel: |
T. Lam Dang, Esq. |
Staff Attorneys: |
Alik K. Jackson, Esq. |
Cathrine Allen, Esq. |
Charlotte Ruzzca de la Chausse'e, Esq. |
Yolanda Rondon, Esq. |
Budget Officer: |
Mr. Patrick MacKenzie |
Director of Administration: |
Mr. Suda Rayel |
Public Information Officer: |
Mrs. Lynn Narruhn |
IT Manager: |
Mr. Dayston Roby |
Judiciary Branch |
|
Chief Justice: |
VACANT |
Acting Chief Justices: |
Hon. Beauleen Carl-Worswick |
|
Hon. Larry Wentworth |
|
Hon. Dennis L. Belcourt |
Director of Administration: |
Mrs. Emeliana J. Musrasrik-Carl |
Chief/Appellate Clerk: |
Mrs. Sandy Albert |
Deputy Chief Clerk: |
Ms. Senda Helgen |
National Justice Ombudsmen: |
Johnny Peter |
State Justice Ombudsman (Chuuk): |
Mr. Jefferson Teruo |
State Justice Ombudsman (Kosrae): |
Mr. Linson Waguk |
State Justice Ombudsman (Pohnpei): |
Mr. Brensen B. Penias |
State Justice Ombudsman (Yap): |
Mr. Peter Garangmau |
General Counsel: |
[VACANT] |
Staff Attorneys: |
Pohnpei: |
Carleila Carl-Edgar, Esq. |
|
|
|
Craig Reffner, Esq. |
Chuuk: |
[VACANT] |
Yap: |
[VACANT] |
Chief Law Librarian / Publication Manager: |
Mr. Teddy Hasgiulbung |
IT Manager: |
Mr. Jayvee Tamagginey |
Other Offices and Agensies |
|
Chief Public Defender: |
[Vacant] |
|
Acting Chief Public Defender: |
Mr. Timoci Romanu |
FSM Natonal Public Auditor: |
Mr. Haser H. Hainrick |
FSM National Public Auditor Website |
FSM Telecomm. Corp., President / CEO: |
Mr. Freddy S. Perman |
FSM Telecom Website |
Vice President, Chuuk Branch: |
Mr. Minoru Mori |
Vice President, Kosrae Branch: |
Mr. Witson Phillip |
Vice President, Yap Branch: |
Mr. Peter Gilinug |
College of Micronesia - FSM Interim President: |
Mrs. Karen Simion |
COM-FSM Website |
Vice President for Instructional Affairs: |
Mrs. Karen Simion |
Vice President for EM & SS: |
Mr. Joey Oducado |
Vice President for Administrative Services: |
Mr. Joseph Habuchmai |
Vice President for IE & QA: |
Ms. Caroline Kocel |
FSM Social Security Administrator: |
Mr. Leon Panuelo Jr. |
FSM Social Security Website |
Deputy Administrator: |
Mr. Francky Illai |
Chuuk Branch Manager: |
Mr. Jimmy Mori |
Kosrae Branch Manager: |
Mr. Presley Charley |
Yap Branch Manager: |
Mr. Erick Gooflan Ruepong |
Pohnpei Branch Manager: |
Ms. Liksta Oliver |
NORMA, Executive Director: |
Mrs. Limanman E. Helgenberger |
|
National Fisheries Corporation, Pres./CEO: |
Ms. Patricia Jack Jossien |
National Fisheries Corporation Website |
Vice President: |
VACANT |
FSM Development Bank, Pres./CEO: |
Ms. Anna Mendiola |
|
SVP/COO: |
VACANT |
Chief Financial Officer: |
Mr. Brandon J. Tara |
Legal Counsel: |
Nora E. Sigrah, Esq. |
Chuuk Branch Manager: |
Mr. Masashi Mori |
Yap Branch Manager: |
Ms. Katherine Gisog |
Kosrae Branch Manager: |
Ms. Andriet Tilfas |
Banking Comm., Commissioner: |
Mr. Jesse Giltamag |
|
Office of Compact Management, Director.: |
Mr. Kemsky Sigrah |
|
|