Speech
Pohnpei White Collar Crime Workshop
By Miriam K. Hughes
U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia
(June 25, 2008, Pohnpei Hospital Training Room, Nan Mal, Pohnpei, FSM)
Welcome to the Public Sector Workshop on White Collar Crime. I am gratified by the level of interest it has generated, as demonstrated by your participation today.
Shortly after Governor Ehsa took office, I paid him a courtesy call. Now courtesy calls are generally occasions to smile at the air, promise eternal friendship and make no firm commitments – but not with this Governor. He surprised me – positively – by declaring, “Ambassador, this is what I need you to help me with.” And out came a list but for once, it was not at all about the Amended Compact or financial handouts. At the top of the Governor’s list was a workshop on White Collar Crime.
I was thrilled with his request and nodded affirmatively. Transparency in governance is a top foreign policy priority of the United States. We have been a leader in multinational efforts to end bribery and corruption, including in international business practices. We believe that every state must have the power to maintain order and punish criminal acts. The rules and procedures by which a state enforces its laws must be public and explicit – not arbitrary, secret, or subject to political manipulation. They must be the same for everyone. This is a core area in which we seek to build international capacity. A cornerstone of the American heritage is recognition of the principle that all men and women are created inherently equal and deserve equal treatment. So, I loved Governor Ehsa’s request, and I was excited.
The Federated States of Micronesia has a democratic constitution, free elections and an operative system of justice. These are precious things. Keeping them requires vigilance and a lot of hard work by people like you. It requires leadership – your leadership. The FBI and other U.S. law enforcement agencies stand ready to help you. But in the end, it will require your initiative and your enthusiasm and your dedication. I know you will bring all these qualities to ensure that the workshop that is about to begin is a success.