While the CNMI is still recovering from the impact of typhoon Yutu, 14 public safety officers led by CNMI Gov. Ralph Torres are currently in the Federated States of Micronesia for a goodwill visit.
The CNMI delegation, who arrived on Feb. 1, will be staying in Ponhpei for a week to assist with building public safety capacity, according to FSM Information Service.
Torres came to Pohnpei upon invitation from FSM President Peter M. Christian and to “demonstrate CNMI’s appreciation of its close relationship with our nation,” FSMIS said.
The names of the traveling officers and details of the travel expenses were not available as of press time.
Torres said the 14 officers from the CNMI Department of Public Safety traveling are involved in different fields including certified firearms, investigation and homicide, survival, grants management, human resources, public information and counseling.
“And the reason why they’re here is to do an assessment or work with the public safety departments to assess and to offer our assistance in collaboration with the (FSM) president and the mayor of Kolonia,” Torres said.
The governor said the CNMI delegation will be donating public safety uniforms to FSM states and local municipalities. “We have more coming in May again, and we’ll have four vehicles that we’ll be turning in here for Pohnpei State,” Torres said, adding that his future goal is to bring a bucket truck for the Pohnpei Utility Corporation, an augur and a fire truck.
“So this is something I was telling the Mayor [of Kolonia Town],” Torres said, “Kolonia is your downtown, and you need to protect that because that’s where money is made. But you also need to take care of the outskirts. Like for the ambulance we brought, do you want us to bring a couple more?” Torres said he came to FSM to personally thank Christian for sending over crews to Saipan to assist with the post-typhoon recovery efforts.
Torres and his delegation were welcomed by Pohnpei Gov. Marcelo Peterson, Kolonia Gov. Jose San Nicholas, as well as officials of FSM national government, Pohnpei state government, Kolonia town government, and members of the Pohnpei State Legislature. “We came here to strengthen the relationship with the FSM,” Torres said. “Your country is fortunate to have a president that is aggressive yet able to have a strong trust relationship, and that’s the reason why I’m here: to stress the relationship and the opportunity [if he’s reelected] to work with him for the next four years.”