On OTV - Weekend Report February 20, 2009 - News from around Palau and the Pacific

Your watching the "Weekend Report" for February 20, 2009 (requires Quicktime 7.4)

Below is the text vesion of the weekend report with headlines from around Palau and the Pacific.

Harry Fritz was nominated and has been confirmed as the new minister of the Ministry of National Resources, Environment, and Tourism. Fritz was the campaign manager for the Toribiong-Mariur Election team and chaired the recent inauguration festivities. Fritz served four consecutive terms in the senate during which, he became the chairman of the Senate Ways and means Committee. Before that he was the Executive Director for the Koror State Planning Commission.

Tina Rehuher has been appointed and confirmed as the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs

Moving into international waters,is Jackson Henry as the newly appointed ambassador of Taiwan. Confirmation was made this Thursday afternoon.

The Senate, on February 6th passed a Resolution amending Rule 11 (D) of the Senate Rule of Procedure regarding debate, decorum, and discipline. The newly amended rule, introduced by Senate President, Mlib Tmetuchl and Floor Leader, Raynold Oilouch, has barred any filming or videotaping inside the senate chambers. Filming will no longer be allowed in the Senate Chambers, including the Senate Gallery.

PPUC announced to the public that the current power rationing will remain until further notice. The power outages result from a failure of one of the power generators in Aimeliik. The schedule for the power outages are as follows.

After a long waited delay, the trial in Civil Action No. 08-094 of Olkeriil Ngiralmau, vs. former senator and VP candidate, Alan Seid and Senator Diaz took place this Wednesday at 8:30am before AJ Alexandra Foster. Ngiralmau is suing for an assault and battery that took place two years ago at Drop-Off bar and grill. Seid had pled gulty to the assault and Senator Diaz was found guilty after a trial. Both paid the fine and were ordered to do community service. Ex-senator Seid, is represented by Bill Ridpath. Ngiramau was represented by Imelda Nakamura, while Diaz was represented by fellow senator, Raynold Oilouch. Diaz is under a gag order not to speak about the case as are the rest of the parties. Seid took the stand yesterday. Diaz also took the stand yesterday in the late afternoon. He claimed to be baffled as to how he ever got convicted for assault as he still feels he is innocent. He explained that it must have been because he had his hands on somebody else's body. Yesterday he also denied having caused Plaintiffs' bruises. Diaz did, however, admit to having bodily contact with Plaintiff by tugging him around the area of his belt. Seid was also on the stand. The trial is finished and within two weeks a verdict should issue.

Also this week, the two civil cases against Diaz by Roll'em Productions and owner Jeff Barabe have been set for trial. Diaz's local counsel was Earnstine Rengill and is replaced by Salvador Remekot. Remekot will not be handling the legal issues and will only act as a local agent for service.

While Diaz was in Courtroom 103 for his assault case, Roll 'em Productions filed and served a summary judgment motion asking the Court to find in its favor on the copyright claim. Roll 'em Productions' attorney argued that the case was a simple one, where Diaz played a video produced by Roll'em productions without giving credit to Roll'em Productions. The attorney asked that Diaz's actions be strongly condemned. Diaz has 14 days to respond.

The cases are now before Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong. Roll'em Productons and Barabe, are represented by Kassi Berg; Diaz is represented by an attorney from off-island who did not appear at the trial setting conference.

After operating in Palau for over twenty years, Shell Palau is currently in the process of being sold to Aloha Petroleum as a part of a region wide selling of Shell assets including those in Guam and the Norther Marianas Islands. Aloha Petroleum is Hawaii's largest independently owned petroleum ditributor and operates Aloha Gasoline and Island Mini-Mart. Along with providing fuel, Shell Palau has ben a major sponsor for a variety of events that include sports tournaments, environmental programs, along with several community activities.

President JT wrote a letter the US Department of Interior week requesting the services of an Inspector General. In his letter, he asked that the IG be made available for VP Mariur, who is now the minister of Finance, to facilitate him in verifying the status of the US grants and Compact funds that Palau has been receiving from to help him in identifying and implementing better ways of conducting business. President Toribiong stated that many of our financial obstacles result from " the manner in which many of the funds received by Palau, from its Compact with the US have been spent. He further stated that past records revealed many questionable expenditures and practices in which his administration does not have the ability to investigate and understand. President T added, "Mr. Secretary, I have pledged to my people that my administration will be completely transparent. My ability to keep that pledge, hinges on my administration's capacity to understand what has happened the past and not commit the same mistakes going forward. I sincerely hope you will be able to grant my simple request."

There are still some unlocated government properties since the inauguration. Minister of Justice, Johnny GIbbons, stated that there has yet to be an inventory made on the properties that were returned to ensure whether or not all properties are accounted for. Gibbons said that the government will still determine what properties are missing, if they are missing, and whether or not they were taken out of the offices illegaly.

If so, appropriate charges will be filed against the person(s) who took the properties out of office. Director Marino Rechesengel explained that some of the government properties may have been misplaced or stored somewhere else and could not be located as of date. Most of which are computers that are now "obsolete" and may have been taken for repair. As far as Rechesengel is concerned, everyone followed procedure.

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