The Federated States of Micronesia’s Joint Committee on Compact Review and Planning has briefed Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, Sen. Clynt Ridgell and Minority Leader Sen. Wil Castro. The JCCRP was impaneled through FSM Congress legislative action and it focuses on Compact of Free Association renegotiation.

JCCRP Chair Asterio Tasky shared during the visit that studies show the FSM economy is not ready for self-sustenance, that there is a continued need for US intervention and that ending the Compact would result in the collapse of the FSM’ economy. The current Compact agreement expires in 2023.

Meanwhile, the FSM Information Services released a statement to Guam media condemning the “machete attack” that took place on June 4. The release says the FSM government understands that the incident has started sincere discussion about FSM citizens living on Guam who conduct themselves in a “manner that undermines public safety.”

“The Government of the FSM condemns the behavior of the individuals involved in this incident; these types of threatening actions, real and perceived, negatively impact the safety and wellbeing of other human beings. The Government of the FSM hopes that the people and Government of Guam will not condemn the people and Government of the FSM for the undesirable and unlawful actions of a few, in light of the continuing positive and productive community contributions of the vast majority of FSM citizens living and working in Guam.

The Government of the FSM promotes the values on its seal of peace, unity, and liberty, and abjectly condemns any and all violence and disorder, in any shape or form. The Government regrets that the behavior of a citizen of the FSM has negatively impacted one or more lives and, through the FSM Consulate Office in Guam, working with partners such as Guam FSM community Leadership organizations, local Guam community outreach organizations, local law enforcement, and the Micronesian Resource Center, will work with as many stakeholders as possible to develop and implement programs that will attempt to ensure that incidents of this sort don’t occur.

The FSM National Government recognizes that there are linguistic, economic, and cultural challenges involved when citizens of the FSM migrate outside of the FSM’s borders—as there are when citizens of other nations migrate to the FSM. The Government and people of the FSM express their sincerest apologies to those affected by this unfortunate incident."