Veteran's Day is right around the corner, tomorrow as a matter of fact for us here in Pohnpei. The holiday is officially called FSM Veterans of Foreign Wars Day and is celebrated on the 11th of November, every year. What started out as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I in 1918, later became Veterans Day in the U.S. in 1954 and here in the FSM became an official holiday on June 23, 2004, as FSM Veterans of Foreign Wars Day, to:
commemorate those citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia serving in Foreign Wars through its services in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
A little bit of history behind why we here in Micronesia and many places across the world will have the day off on November 11.
So, please allow this blog to honor all the Veterans who served and returned to their homes and families and all those who died in Foreign Wars, on foreign shores far away from Micronesia, from CPT John Julliano Kintaro of Palau who died in Vietnam in 1971, to Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena of Kosrae, who was killed in action in 2012 in Afghanistan, and everyone who ever served in the Armed Forces of any nation at any time. May you have the best of lives, in the happiest of circumstances under the safest of conditions forever and ever. You have paid your dues to the gods of war. Rest easy. Thank you.
And may the families of the fallen be comforted for the loss of their heroes or heroines.
In Palau, the Government reported a $2.2 million surplus despite the COVID-19 pandemic! That's pretty good Palau. Plus, they have been safely repatriating their people from COVID-19 infected areas, and they just elected a new President. Here is a quick summary of the budget:
The total budget for FY 2020 which included three (3) supplemental budgets, was $102 million dollars. Government revenue collected including financing sources reached $96.07m. Total expenditures for FY 2020 was at $93.85 million, leaving a positive balance of $2.2 million dollars.
Great job, Palau! I wonder if the FSM or RMI have reported similar successes? We'll share what we have, if it's being shared, of course.
A recent article in a Vietnam newspaper revealed Micronesia provides 100,000 USD in aid to Vietnamese flood victims. What a great gesture. I thank our FSM Congress for sending aid to those flood victims. Wish them the best.
Speaking of FSM Congress, the official list of candidates for the two-year seats have been released. You know it's good to see our Congressmen being challenged for their seats. When I see Congressmen going unchallenged, it really makes me sad. Nothing changes without some sort of change.
Our Pohnpei State Legislature Speaker, Ausen T. Lambert, is going up against the incumbent, Ferny Perman, for the State of Pohnpei's Election District One - Sokehs, Kolonia and the Southern Islands. This is exciting. In Election District Two, Berney Martin and Quincy Lawrence are challenging the incumbent, Dion G. Neth. In Election District Three, Jose Joab, Erick Paul, and Marstella Jack are challenging the incumbent, Esmond Moses. This is going to be an interesting election. Again, check out the full list here.
Looking over to where America's Day begins in Micronesia, Guam's Pacific Daily News is reporting 240 positive cases reported on Monday. Wishing them all the best.
OPINION: With the Veteran's Day holiday coming up, it's a good time to reflect on our ongoing relationship with the USA. Especially, in light of the new administration at the White House and our renegotiation of the Compact of Free Association with the U.S.A.
Our location, location, location... has always placed us in peculiar situations. Bigger, powerful nations fought in our waters, on our islands, and decided our fate, while we just tried to stay alive. With China's belt and road brouhaha, we find ourselves in the midst of another type of conflict. Not a conflict of guns, planes, and ships, yet. But, one of posturing and pivoting. Here we stand, between the USA and China, as they play out their geopolitical strategic proxy war games.
As a small, but strategically important nation with skin in the game, when I say skin in the game, I mean that quite literally, our skins are in the middle of this game, what do we have to say? Well, with Trump trying to drown out the Chinese by increasing USA attention to Micronesia, now for all intents and purposes, gone, what to do? I bet, China will now increase and continue to increase its focus and attention to us. To what end? To our benefit. I hope our leaders will continue to see opportunity in crisis and get the best deal from both ends for us. We earned it. We deserve it. This is always looming in my military veteran/Micronesian mind and will probably always will.
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