Vice President Yosiwo Palikkun George of the Federated States of Micronesia passed away at age 81 after he became ill with COVID-19.
President Surangel Whipps Jr. expressed his condolences on the passing of the Honorable Yosiwo P. George, saying, “On behalf of the people and government of Palau, I extend our sincerest condolences to the people of the Federated States on the passing of a noted statesman, visionary and friend.” He further extended condolences to Antilise W. Mackwelung George and their children and grandchildren on the loss of their loved ones.
State funeral for the late Vice President of the FSM will be held on Wednesday, according to the press release from FSM Government, and FSM President David W. Panuelo will be flying with the Second Family to the State of Kosrae for the final funeral rites.
Late Vice President Yosiwo P. George has had an illustrious career. He went to school abroad and returned to FSM to serve his nation and community as an engineer, teacher, and political person.
He served as head of the Pacific Islands Social Security Office in 1970s and served as Chief Justice of Kosrae State, and as FSM Ambassador to the United States of America. He served two terms as a Vice President until his passing.
The position of the Vice President, based on information from the FSM government, has been declared vacant, and Congress will elect the new Vice President. The vice president will be selected from the four sitting At-Large Senators. They are T.H. Joseph J. Urusemal (Yap State); T.H. Wesley W. Simina (Chuuk State); T.H. Peter M. Christian (Pohnpei State); and T.H. Aren B. Palik (Kosrae State).
The information further states that after the Congress elects a Vice President, there will be a vacancy in the congress, but with less than a year away until the next election, there will be no special election to fill the vacancy. The governor of the affected state will appoint a replacement.