BELOW is a draft of an official letter sent to the FSM government from the people on Onoun, in the Namonuitoes about 120 miles northwest of Weno, Chuuk. For privacy concerns, individual names have been removed.
"The Namonuitoes and all of the Northern Islands have lost their access to air transportation. We can no longer call for medical evacuation nor bring in personnel or hardware for The Cuthbert Project, located at WeiPat High. We are hosting, on Onoun, an educational symposium in early July and all of the participants will have to travel by boat, and gas, when available, is almost $8 per gallon. We, the people of the Northern Islands, need your immediate intervention and help.
"The airstrip on Onoun has been declared unsafe due to the dense growth at both ends of the runway and on both sides. Also, there are pot holes in the surface of the landing strip. We, the people of Onoun, and the students of WeiPat High are willing to do the work, but we need the necessary tools to do the work. We need chainsaws, bushcutters, herbicides, wheelbarrows, picks and shovels as well as the necessary spare parts and safety equipment for the people to perform the necessary clearing and patching. We estimate that the tools and supplies can be purchased for $15,000 and can be delivered to Onoun at the end of June when we have a private boat coming to Onoun from Guam. We will then have the necessary tools to do regular maintenance on our landing strip to ensure continued access to air transportation. We don't often ask for much but, we need access to air transportation for those in crisis."
In the past several years, I have had the opportunity to visit many of the outer-islands, especially in Chuuk. From what I have seen, I doubt that little, if any, Compact funds have reached these islands. As soon as the winds change, I hope to leave Guam with some borrowed bushcutters and chainsaws to assist in the opening of the airfield on Onoun.
Bill Hagen,
The Cuthbert Project
Guam
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Letter to the Editor 
Remote Chuukese island loses air service
Remote Chuukese island loses air service
Remote Chuukese island loses air service
- Tuesday, 26 Jun 2012 03:00am
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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