American Samoa	Guam	Northern Mariana Islands	U.S. Virgin Islands	Marshall Islands	Federated States of Micronesia	Palau

(photo courtesy arkolabs.com)

H1N1 Influenza A Virus Alerts

For the best and most accurate source of guidance on the H1N1 flu, please refer to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

Compact Funds Released to the Marshall Islands

U.S. Ambassador to the RMI, Clyde Bishop and RMI Minister of Finance Jack Ading. Photo credit: Giff Johnson, Marshall Islands Journal

In the month of April the RMI Ministry of Finance has received Compact-funded payments from the United States Government totaling $6,757,492. These payments were for FY09 Compact Sector Grants for the month of April, Compact infrastructure projects for the month of April, the Enewetak Food & Agriculture Program, the FY07 SEG, the FY08 SEG, the 3rd Quarter Kwajalein Landowner Payment, and the 3rd Quarter Kwajalein Escrow Payment. More

National Park Service Funds
Two “HOT SHOTS” From American Samoa

(Left to right) Firefighters Tulimanu Tulimanu, Jr., Mike Reynolds, superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa and Kitiona Osotonu pictured yesterday at the National Park Visitor’s Center at the Pago Plaza. Tulimanu and Osotonu will be departing the island soon to join up with two different “Hot Shots” for the dry season. Photo Credit: Tina Mata’afa

Excerpted from SamoaNews.Com, Tina Mata’afa, tina@samoanews.com, April 17, 2009 - Wildland firefighters Kitiona Osotonu and Tulimanu Tulimanu, Jr., both from Leone, leave the island soon to join up with the “Hot Shots” in the U.S. mainland, those who risk their lives in order to save the nation’s natural treasures as well as lives and homes threatened by massive fires that occur during the dry season.

“[They] are success stories that American Samoa should be proud of,” said National Park of American Samoa Superintendent Mike Reynolds. “They’re well respected on the mainland... sought after... something we’re pretty proud of. It’s good money, they’re great firefighters and famous among the fire ranks in the U.S.” More

Conference on Business Opportunity
in the Islands Concludes Successfully

L-R: Mr. Clouden (USVI), Minister Muller (RMI), Governor Camacho (GU), President Mori (FSM), DAS Pula, Minister Pierantozzi (ROP), and Secretary Ada (CNMI)

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2009): The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs concluded a successful three-day Conference on Business Opportunities in the Islands, which kicked off on April 6 at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu. Each of the freely associated states and the U.S. insular areas had government officials present, including the following heads of delegations: President Manny Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia, Governor Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa, Governor Felix Camacho of Guam, Minister of State Sandra Pierantozzi of Palau, Minister of Resources and Development Fredrick Muller of the Marshall Islands, Secretary of Commerce Michael Ada of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Economic Development Authority Percival Clouden.    More

Interior and Commerce Departments Sign Agreement for GDP Data Collection, Training in U.S. Territories

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior has signed an agreement with the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce to assist the U.S. island territories in developing and producing annual gross domestic product (GDP) statistics for the islands.   More

CW PallBearers lowres Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kaselehlie Press, Jaynes-Lowres

Fallen U.S. Soldier Given Full Military Honors in Pohnpei, Micronesia

(Excerpted from Kaselehlie Press, Wednesday, March 18, issue, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia [FSM]) – The body of 19-year old Hawaii Army National Guard Specialist Cwislyn K. Walter arrived at the Pohnpei International Airport on Thursday, March 5, by military transport. A motorcade of dignitaries and military officials escorted her body to the Catholic church in Kolonia, where a memorial service was attended by hundreds of people. Father Frances Hezel, S.J., presided over the service. Specialist Walter died in a non- combat-related traffic accident on February 19 in Kuwait, where she was deployed with the Headquarters Company, 29th B Brigade Special Troops Battalion. Three other National Guard soldiers were injured in the accident. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Specialist Walter was born in Chuuk, raised on Guam and in October 2008 became a citizen of the United States.   More

Office Of Insular Affairs Welcomes President Toribiong And Recognizes Fifty Years Of Service By Haruo Willter

Washington, D.C. (March 13, 2009) – On his first official visit to Washington, D.C., since his inauguration, the President of Palau paid a courtesy visit to the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) before and after his meeting with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. On behalf of the OIA staff, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Nikolao Pula welcomed the President and congratulated him on his recent inauguration.   More

Secretary Salazar Meets with Palau President Toribiong

T.Bussanich, N.Pula, President Toribiong, Secretary Salazar, S. Pierantozzi, H.Kyota, R. Mesebeluu Photo Credit: R. Beffrey OIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today met with the new President of Palau Johnson Toribiong at the Department the Interior. This is President Toribiong’s first official visit to Washington, D.C. since he was inaugurated on January 15th.   More