okedyulabeluu

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.

Del. Isechal: Philippine "Survivor" has taken use of Peleliu clinic facilities

He said that the Filipino Survivor being filmed in Peleliu had hired its own nurse who is not an employee of the ministry and said he was surprised that they had access to the clinic.

He also cited that when the Air Force Civic Action Team medical staff went to Peleliu for a weekly visit they had to move louvers to get in. “Minister Kuartei, I am bringing these two issues to your attention..." More.

Chinese Uighurs Gitmo detainees to be released in Palau

On June 4, 2009, President Johnson Toribiong met in Palau with a delegation of officials from the Government of the United States of America to consider the problem of the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

President Toribiong, in consultation with his Ministers, the Leadership of the Palau National Congress, and Palau Paramount Chiefs Ibedul and Reklai, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Palau agreed to accommodate the United States of America’s request to temporarily resettle in Palau up to seventeen ethnic Uyghur detainees presently being held a the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, subject to periodic review.

Why aren't we part of the project?

Just imagine what it could mean to Okedyulabeluu...

Construction of the starting point for a 2,000-mile submarine fiber optic cable that is expected to revolutionize communications in the north Pacific kicked off last week in Majuro.

An agreement that involves the U.S. Army, and telecommunications companies of the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia was signed earlier this year after six years of on-and-off negotiations. The cable contracts are worth more than $130 million... With fiber cable, Kwajelein will have access to almost limitless high-speed, immediate communications abilit. The fiber cable "allows the transmission and reception of large amounts of information in near real-time. it will link Majuro, Kwajelein ande Phonpei with Guam, offering broadbande communications capability to an area that now faces bottlenecks from satellite communication. More here.

ROP to face at least $9 million shortfall for FY 2010

Palau is facing at least a shortfall of $9 million for the FY2010 budget. VP Mariur said the country is facing the challenges of not only a local revenue shortfall of almost $5 million but the next year's budget will also be affected by the termination of the financial provision of the Compact of Free Association.

50% of PNCC profits to fund retirement

“The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds it has a responsibility to find new sources of income for this Trust Fund to fulfill this responsibility and to ensure that PNCC does not misspend its profits, the OEK finds it prudent to require the PNCC deposit half of its annual profits into the Republic of Palau Civil Service Pension trust Fund,” the bill stated . More here.

Ban of export of marine resources mulled

“The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that the living resources that inhabit Palau’s reefs, territorial sea and internal waters are quickly being depleted,” the bill stated. It added that information from local fishermen indicated that reef fish and other aquatic life have become scarce. More here.

Commercial customers asked to supply own power

The PPUC explained that power outages affecting nationwide at different hours since the past few days were results of emergency mechanical services at Malakal and Aimeliik Power Plants...the unloading of Mitsubishi 12 generator at the Malakal power plant was required on June 1 and DG2 and DG4 at Aimeliik Plant on June 2 and June 3...commercial customers have been requested to assist the power company by utilizing their own power while the maintenance work is ongoing to address the capabilities of the engines to fully supply all residential, commercial and governmental demand...commercial supply own power from daytime to 9pm. (Island Times, June 5, 2009)

ROP Gov scrambles to find money

VP Mariur disclosed that the national budget for FY 2009 is short of $6 million..."There is no source of funding so no supplemental budget," Mariur said, although he admitted that supplemental will be needed to address the shortfall. Mariur said they are trying to rebalance the budget in the exectuive branch. (Island Times, June 5, 2009)

5 Senators, 2 Delegates and 5 staffs on fact finding mission to Philippines

Dear Editor, 

My friend and I are shocked at the audacity of the 8^th OEK members to take a fact finding mission trip to Philippines. Five senators and two delegates and five staff members. This trip easily cost our government close to $15,000.00 including hotels, taxi, food, and entertainment. We heard that they went to study their school system so that we can send our students there for college. These OEK members never heard of the internet? And if it was required for someone to fly there, was it necessary to have eight OEK members and five staffs to go get this information? 

Also we want to find out why OEK members went on this trip and not the Minister of Education and Minister of State? We know that is the function of the executive branch and the legislative branch. We understand that OEK is running short of money so they will be asking for supplemental budget. We hope the media will expose this issue to the people to see how OEK members are spending our taxes. Plus we watched MBTV and saw senators and delegates attending PALMS meeting for executive leaders of the Pacific. Senators and Delegates should know that they are not executive leaders. 

Last week my cousin was in the hospital and they were out of drugs that were prescribed for her and we were told that there is no money to order medicine and supplies for our hospital. So why are members of OEK spending money traveling for what? Can you get their answer and publish for the public to know their explanation. We are very angry but do not know where to vent our frustration.

Name witheld

(Tia Belau, June 1-7, 2009)