by Nick Delgado

Guam - The increase in crime reported involving those from the Federated States of Micronesia community – specifically Chuuk - has caught the attention of the state's first lady. Her visit to Guam is intended to cut down her citizens from being seen in a negative light.

Here to meet with youth in the public schools and those locked up at the Department of Youth Affairs, First Lady of Chuuk Bersita Elimo says her visit is long overdue. "I was surprised to learn that there Chuukese woman that drop off their kids, to me women from Chuuk cannot do that but I found out there are woman from Chuuk that drop off their kids and left. That's what really urge me to visit and listen," she said.

Joined by the FSM counsel general, the DOE superintendent, the DYA director and faith-based leaders, First Lady Elimo says she is ready to hit the ground running in educating the Chuukese community on Guam to stop contributing to the ever increasing crime rate. At least 60-80% of the crimes committed by those in the FSM community are alcohol-fueled, which is why the first lady is here on island hoping to reach out to those in the community, especially the youth to the crime from continuing.

There are 160 individuals from Chuuk confined at DOC today. DYA stats show in 2011 out the 606 clients recorded for the year, at least 210 were Chuukese. There's at least 23 out of the 53 clients today.

The first lady says the problem is store's in her state often sell alcohol to anyone with money including minors, and the alcohol costs nearly twice as much then it does on Guam. Monday she toured public schools and today spoke with youth at DYA. "I am hoping after this visit it will be reduced or they will know I representing the state that we do care about them and we don't want them to repeat the same thing they've done," Elimo said.

Also reaching out, FSM Consul General Robert Ruecho says the action plan to curb crimes committed by his citizens is anticipated to launch next month. The problem in the past is getting the FSM community to his pocket meetings. "The people that we needed to reach out to never made it to those meetings, so this time we are going to go out to their communities in the villages where they live," he said.

Meantime, First Lady Elimo is asking parents to get more involved in teaching their families how to speak English, and suggest parents who do not have work observe their children in the classroom.