KITTI, Pohnpei – As part of his ongoing nationwide outreach efforts and the administration’s national unity-building initiative, His Excellency President Wesley W. Simina paid an official visit to the municipality of Kitti on Monday, September 16, 2024. During his visit, the President announced a pledge of $1.5 million to support Kitti’s priority community projects, highlighting the administration’s commitment to fostering unity and collaboration across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The visit is part of President Simina’s broader efforts to strengthen ties with communities across FSM, reinforcing the belief that effective governance and national development must start from the ground up. Addressing the people of Kitti, President Simina emphasized, “The Simina-Palik administration places a high premium on unity of purpose and action for development. An important element of our policy is strengthening our relationship with grassroots, community-level leadership to achieve a bottom-up approach to our development aspirations.”
President Simina met with Kitti’s traditional leaders, including His Excellency Wasalapalap Sou Kiseh Leng, Nahnmwarki of Kitti, and the Iso Nahnkens, as well as the Mayor and members of the Kitti Municipal Government, church leaders, and the Pohnpei State Legislature. 
He expressed his deep respect for Kitti’s leadership and the importance of building lasting partnerships to ensure that local needs are addressed.
The President and his delegation were warmly welcomed by the schools and communities of Pehleng and Seinwar Elementary Schools, whose hospitality left a lasting impression. President Simina extended his heartfelt thanks to the students, teachers, and local leaders for their gracious reception, emphasizing the importance of fostering educational partnerships as part of the broader community development efforts. “Your warm welcome is a testament to the strength of your community, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration to ensure a brighter future for your students and families,” he said.
In his remarks, the President underscored that rural communities like Kitti have often been overlooked in the national development agenda and stressed the importance of equitable resource distribution. “Our resources should benefit not just the urban centers but also the outer areas, ensuring fair and balanced growth across our nation. This is why Vice President Palik and I are making it a priority to visit municipalities like Kitti, to listen to your concerns and collaborate on solutions.”
The $1.5 million pledge is part of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that communities have the resources necessary to address their own development priorities. President Simina noted that the funds would allow Kitti’s leaders to choose and implement a project that best serves their community. “I may not be able to grant your request for a basketball court at this time, but this $1.5 million pledge reflects my commitment to ensuring that your administration can make the decisions that will have the greatest impact for your people.”
The President also emphasized the importance of collaboration between national, state, and local governments. “It is imperative that we initiate partnerships through visits like this, to get to know each other and find ways to assist each other. Building lasting partnerships for effective governance must begin from the ground up,” he stated.
President Simina’s visit to Kitti is a continuation of the Simina-Palik administration’s efforts to promote national unity by engaging with communities across FSM, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and their needs met. The FSM Government remains committed to supporting Kitti and other municipalities through collaborative efforts aimed at achieving a stronger and more united FSM.
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