okedyulabeluu

Tumult in the Senate

The Senate's majority has been shaken by the resignation of Joel Toribiong as chairman of the Senate JGA Committee. Joel's resignation may not be a surprised to some as he has shown his dispelasure of the Senate's leadership, especially with Senate President Tmetuchl who prefers to expends his political capital protecting Diaz instead of looking to push through the backlog of proposed legislations in the Senate. Mlib's faction is said to be uneasy with his preoccupation of shielding Diaz, that as they have admitted have put senate in the negative light.

The Senate may not be far away from changing hands.

Palau's ultimatum?

But the head of Palau's negotiating team, Joshua Koshiba, said the offer to take the Chinese detainees was "a positive for the negotiation" on the compact.

"I can point my finger at them now and say, 'See, we are helping you too, without asking for help only,"' Koshiba told AP.

If the U.S. doesn't agree to Palau's new terms, Koshiba said, his country will weigh its options.

"When you have a friend, if they don't want to be your friend anymore, what do you do? Don't you look for another friend?" Koshiba said.

Mark Bezner, the top U.S. official in Palau who will also take part in the talks, called the extension request "a radical departure" from previous discussions but said Washington would consider any proposal made by the Palauans. Story here.

Senate wants president removed from having final say on FIB permits

If senators have their way, President Toribiong isn't going to be able to overhaul the Federal Investment Board as he had hoped.

IT Editorial: Or is this another political came directed by others high above?

Or is this another political game directed by other high above? Island Times contacted SP's office last week inquiring about a different case altogether, bu Mr. Copeland deftly avoided a direct response and instead promised it would send over a press release. He did, but it turned out to be worthless case that if anything should be a cause for concern if it is any indication of the kind of work being performed by this important independent office.

TR: One has to ask if this is selective prosecution

Yesterday, Remengesau issued a statement clarifying his filing records..."I am being charged basically 'technical information related to the filing of personal assets under the Code of Ethics law. They are misdemeanor charges but I intend to vigorously contest them as I have reported the information n those properties since 2001. I have never been advised that the information I have been reporting every year is insufficient or incomplete," Remengesau said.

Palau has first confirmed swine flue case

Health Minister Dr. Stevenson Kuartei announced that Palau has its first laboratory confirmed case of Influenza A(H1N1), after receiving lab results yesterday morning from the first batch of samples sent to Melbourne, Australia early in June 2009. Here.

TR charged on 19 Code of Ethics violations

In Criminal Case No. 09-092 file by Special Prosecutor Michael Copeland for the government, counts one to five states that defendant Remengesau as a public official in his 2002 yearly ethics discourse statement, failed to disclose the transfer in 2001 of five pieces of real estate property to his possession, each of which is valued at over $1,000. The previous owners of the five lands were Patrick Remarii, Gustav Ellechel, Rekemesik, Rekemesik S.R, and Vallary Valenzuela. Four of the lands are located in Ngaremlengui while one is in Ngarchelong...

Ocheraol grosses $114,166.25

An OCHERAOL of Mr. Tadao Ngotel held last Thursday June 25, at Sunset Park pulled in $114,166.25 plus three Palauan money: BACHEL, CHELBUCHED, KLDAIT and 46 TOLUK.

Salary raise for top executives proposed

"I am also requesting the Olbiil Era Kelulau to raise the salary of President, Vice President, and the Ministers to a level commensurate with their responsibilities and with the compensation paid to the members of the legislative branches of government. The requested increases should be granted as a matter of equity and logic. If in the future it becomes necessary to reduce the compensation of members of the OEK, then compensation fo the officials of the executive branch, and certain judges, will be reduced in equal measure," said President Toribiong in his proposed FY 2010 budget transmittal letter to HOD Speaker Idechong on Friday.

No relief to the economy

Budget reduced. Here.

While power rate hikes. Here.

Isechal wants HOD expenditure records in accordance with transparency policy

Del. Jonathan Isechal in a memorandum requested House Speaker Noah Idechong to authorize the expenditure records from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008 and from Oct. 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009...this is needed in accordance with the transparency policy of the government. The delegate is also requesting a copy of the House’s most recent performance report. Here.

Ngaremlengui offers to take Uighurs

Officials in rural Ngeremlengui state sent Toribiong a letter Thursday offering to take in the Uighurs. “If they want to work on the farm, then they can work on the farm,” said Governor Wilson Ongos. “If they want to go fishing, they can go fishing.” Story here.

Labor Chief Masayos bribed?

A source who asked for anonymity said that Masayos was locked up in jail for Misconduct in Public Office, bribery, conspiracy, violation of code of ethics and human trafficking.

Horizon gathered that Masayos had been long under investigation for these criminal activities. Here.

What 'Olkerodel ra Ruk'? Chuuk is running a surplus

After running an operating surplus in FY 2007 the state ran an operating deficit in FY 2008 — mainly due to a loss on the investment earnings on the early retirement funds.

The financial performance to date indicates that an operating surplus for FY 2009 is very likely. Here.

Open Thread LXXIV

Notes from President's briefing to the leadership

Here's a quick bulleted notes from President Toribiong's briefing yesterday at the HOD chamber to OEK members, Council of Traditional Chiefs, and state governors. The president was the only one speaking throughout the briefing.

Presidential Directive No. 09-04

Declaring a Freeze on Governmnet Travel, Hirirng of New Employees and All Purchases Using Funds From Local Revenue Accounts.

A "NO" to Obama would have been costly to Palau?

"Had I said no to President Obama, what do you think would have been the consequences?" Toribiong said, without giving details. Story here.

How Obama asked Toribiong to accept Uighurs

President Obama...asked our new president, Johnson Toribiong, to do the United States a favor: Please accept, as refugees, a group of innocent Chinese Muslims. They are not anti-American terrorists, but victims of human rights violations, who landed at Guantánamo Bay for seven years. Innocent, stateless, harmless. More here.

Only one Uighur wants to move to Palau

The Uighurs appear reluctant to temporarily resettle in Palau, said Joshua Koshiba, who leads a committee on U.S.-Palau relations. He has been in contact with the team since their trip. Possibly only one Uighur wants to move to Palau, he said, without providing details of the discussions. Here.

TR: Palau "should not be for sale"

He [Remengesau]  however said that Palau “should not be for sale” and that the government ensure that the country’s integrity and reputation protected. Here.

Kuartei to review 50% discount for RP workers

Health Minister Stevenson Kuartei said that the ministry will be reviewing the medical services discount given to members of the Filipino Community in Palau. Kuartei was responding to the letter sent earlier by Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino regarding the suspension of the 50 percent discount at the Belau National Hospital for the TFCP members. Here.

Toribiong: FIB engaged in discrimination and unequal protection of the law

The president said the imposition of the workers’ fees on Roll Em Production, the FIB “is engaged in discrimination and unequal protection of the law.” The president accepted the resignations of FIB board members Lee Otobed and Ulai Teltull. Here.

Public funeral for Palauan soldier killed in Afghanistan on June 16

Here.

Palau helps Myanmar asylum seekers

Here.

Open Thread LXXIII

Should Palau accept the Chinese Gitmo detainees?

Take the Poll on the top right sidebar.

Toribiong: Gitmo detainees to Palau not a done deal

AP interview. Here.

Fear-gripped tourist destination

Island Times Editor Fermin Mariang: "The government fumbled the ball on this one...Palau's brand name image could be destroyed: Debedebk Mongami as saying, “I’m also afraid this news is going to scare the tourists who plan to come to Palau.”

More Here. the nation depends on Palau’s status as a South Pacific haven, a status which could get damaged by the presence of trained terrorists who allied themselves with groups that like to attack tourist destinations.

Chinese Gitmo detainees in paradise

From the PrairiePundit

Uighurs in Paradise. See here.