Interior Supports the Association of Pacific Islands Public Auditors 2018 Annual Conference

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Republic of Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. addressing the 2018 Annual Conference
of the Association of Pacific Island Public Auditors in Palau
Photo courtesy of Graduate School USA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs provided support to the Association of Pacific Island Public Auditors (APIPA) for its 29th annual conference in Koror, Republic of Palau, August 6-10, 2018. The conference was hosted by Palau’s Office of the Public Auditor (OPA). The Office of Insular Affairs provided training and logistical support to the conference through the Graduate School USA, providing conference participants the opportunity to receive up to 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Twenty-two (22) courses were delivered during the conference in four training tracks: 1) audit, 2) audit supervisory, 3) finance, and 4) advanced finance and management.

“Financial management and accountability are critical to ensuring successful and effective government,” said Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs. “Secretary Ryan Zinke and I are pleased to provide this assistance and support towards the success of public auditors and finance professionals in each of the island areas.”

Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr., provided welcoming remarks to conference participants at the start of the conference, reminding participants that “accountability is all of our responsibilities…from family to government.” Three hundred and thirty-seven (337) insular government participants attended this year’s conference from throughout the Pacific islands, including American Samoa; Guam; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Hawaii; the Republic of Palau; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia; and Fiji. Also in attendance were representatives from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Inspector General. A total of 1,958 course certificates were awarded for 12,364 hours of CPE credit.

Funds were made available through the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance Program. Applications are submitted from October through May 1st each year for the Technical Assistance Program. Funds are awarded once OIA receives appropriations from the U.S. Congress until they are exhausted.

For more information about Graduate School USA and the programs they provide for the U.S. territories and the freely associated states under contract to the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, visit http://www.pitiviti.org/

APIPA 2018 Participants at the Opening Plenary Session in Palau.
Photo courtesy of Graduate School USA

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees Federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. OIA supports the Secretary's mission of Fulfilling Trust and Insular Responsibilities through balancing efforts and limited resources towards stronger economic and health capacities, and fiscal accountability in the U.S. insular areas.

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