After her site visits in Micronesia, Seacology Senior Program Officer Karen Peterson reports that the medical dispensary, a prefabricated building from the Philippines, has been assembled at a warehouse in Koror. After awaiting transport for some time due to the remoteness of Hanatobi State, and the high cost of fuel, transportation for the clinic building has finally been arranged for the coming weeks. Helen Reef is under protection and rangers are fully trained and monitoring the area, but the challenges are great due to the reef’s close proximity to the Philippines and Indonesia.

Negotiation for additional funds for transportation of materials to the project site is still on-going since the grant does not cover the full cost of transportation. A request has been made to the Palau National Government for assistance in transporting materials to Hatohobei. The target date for completion of the construction work is late 2007. Seacology Senior Program Officer Karen Peterson and Field Representative Simon Ellis plan to conduct a site visit in early July 2007.

Construction materials were purchased in June 2006 and arrived in Palau in fall 2006. The Hatohobei State Governor, the building contractor and the Helen Reef Resource Management were scheduled to meet in late 2006 to draft agreements for the construction of the dispensary. They expect to complete the construction work by the end of February 2007.

Hatohobei State Governor and the Helen Reef project leaders worked together in early 2006 to submit all necessary documentation to Seacology to begin the project. Materials to construct the dispensary are scheduled to be purchased and shipped to the site by mid-2006 so that construction can begin.