Opening Remarks
Nikolao I. Pula
Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas
And Chairman
Joint Economic Management and Fiscal Accountability Committee
September 3, 2009
Honolulu, Hawaii

Iakwe Kom and Aloha.

I recently addressed the annual meeting of the APIPA – Public Auditors - and decided to say hello in all the different languages of the islands.  I have to admit it’s quite a relief to only have to remember one or two greetings as opposed to fifteen!  Believe it or not, I think my pronunciation might be getting better, but at the same time, maybe not.  “Kommol” for allowing me to practice here at the JEMFAC!

Let me say, in ENGLISH, that it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome you today to this, the fifth standing meeting of the Joint Economic Management and Fiscal Accountability Committee.  The JEMFAC has always seemed to have excellent meetings despite dealing with difficult issues.  We’ve managed to iron out our differences quickly with mutual respect and regard for the reasons for our respective positions.  I don’t doubt that today will be any different.

Chief Secretary Nemra and Secretary Kabua, if you would allow me, I’d like to recognize that the U.S. has a newly confirmed Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Martha Campbell, who is here today as an interested observer.  Ambassador Campbell, welcome.  Also new at the State Department is President Obama’s new Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.  I had the pleasure of accompanying Alcy Frelick and Assistant Secretary Campbell to the Pacific Island Forum a couple weeks ago in Cairns, Australia, where we also met with President Tomeing.  Also new to our board this year, is Dr. Nadine Gracia, White House Fellow, representing the Department of Health and Human Services.  Welcome to all.

I’d also like to share news about an exciting and historic event that has happened within the Department of the Interior.  On July 2 of this year, under Secretarial Order 3287, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar elevated the Office of Insular Affairs within the Department by establishing an Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas.  This new Assistant Secretary will report directly to Secretary Salazar as currently do the Department’s other five Assistant Secretaries.  This direct line to the Secretary means a significant change in the way we do business in Washington, and it already brings heightened visibility and attention to the insular areas. 

As you know, President Obama appointed Tony Babauta as his nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas.  The United States Senate already held his confirmation hearing and we are optimistic that the Senate will vote on his appointment when it returns from summer recess.  Our Assistant Secretary-designate is, as you know, a Pacific brother of ours who hails from the island of Guam.  However, he is no newcomer to Washington or to our issues and has more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill.  We look forward to the leadership role he would be undertaking at the Department of the Interior. 

Mr. Babauta has asked that I convey his gratitude to the Marshall Islands delegates and President Tomeing for the endorsement of his appointment at the recent Micronesian Chief Executives Summit in Majuro.  I am certain he looks forward to meeting and working with you.  However, we will ask him to first visit you in Majuro.

One thing that won’t change is the very unique relationship that the United States shares with the Republic of the Marshall Islands under the Compact of Free Association.  Mr. Babauta would want, as I do, to strengthen our partnership and continue to promote an atmosphere where we can come together as JEMFAC, and hold respectful yet frank discussions of how Compact assistance can help the Marshall Islands reach its goals in education, health, and other priority areas.  Of course, we must work within the parameters of what’s been negotiated and enacted into law, but I assure you that we will continue to do our best to help JEMFAC fulfill its mandate in positive ways.

To do this, I believe we will need to collaborate even more closely.  The journey appears to have some sharp twists and turns.  Because of the current state of the global economy, we are all facing challenges but for the Marshall Islands, the waves probably feel even bigger and more threatening because of increasing demands and decreasing dollars.  Today’s patch of relatively calm seas is an important marker in our journey as it allows us a moment to calmly decide the best sea lanes to take for the future. 

Today we will make important decisions that affect the very foundation of the basic services that the RMI has worked so hard to provide in education and health.  We need to be vigilant in safeguarding the progress thus far.  The Marshall Islands has made excellent headway in new school construction.  The Ministry of Education continues to prioritize teacher credentialing and standards-based instruction and assessment as a means of improving learning outcomes.  That work must continue. 

A new and expanded hospital in Majuro is on the roster for construction but until it’s built and ready for occupation, both in-patient and out-patient programs and services need to be nurtured to move beyond the status quo.  If current investigation reveals more cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis than the one patient currently hospitalized in Majuro, the Marshall Islands will need to decide how best to respond -- maybe not today but perhaps even as early as tomorrow.  Recent lessons learned from experience in the FSM point to the probability of a costly intervention for MDR-TB.  We have all of this to keep in mind while resources are only getting tighter. 

I subscribe to the belief that through difficult times comes greater opportunity.   I believe JEMFAC is better equipped and more knowledgeable today than it was yesterday.  We will deal wisely with the issues that will inevitably come our way because of the nature of our work.

We have a long agenda and lots of work to do, so let us continue on this journey together.  Thank you.