Your watching the "Weekend Report" for February 27, 2009 (requires Quicktime 7.4)
Below is the text vesion of the weekend report with headlines from around Palau and the Pacific.
NEWS:
The president authorized this fiscal year's budget before departing for his weeklong state visit to Taiwan. Through his bill transmitted to the OEK, president Toribiong authorized approximately $60.2 million dollars and appropriating about $58.7 million dollars for the National Treasury. He was then welcomed in Taiwan with a formal ceremony that included a twenty- one-gun salute, and full military honors.
Following the withdrawl of OERC National Planner, Youlsau Bells, as a cabinet appointee, the Senate President has authorized Senator Eledui to conduct a full investigation, with the assistance of the Senate Legal Counsel, into the testimony and representations made to the National Congress.
Last Friday, February 20, 2009, two computers were seized from OERC under the Special Prosecutor's broad subpoena powers. The Special Prosecutor, Michael Copeland, has indicated that there is probable cause for the seizure but has declined to comment as to the exact nature of the investigation.
There is still no word on the whereabouts of the Ruger Mini 14; a rifle used by police officers acting as security for the President. It was last seen at the funeral for the late Elia Tulop a former lieutenant, being used for the rifle salutes in Melekeok. To date, there is still no comment by former President, Tommy Remengesau as to any known whereabouts of the rifle. The original reward of $5000 has been raised to $10000
It was a busy Friday when about seven schools received a total of over fifteen hundred pounds of taro from the Taiwan Technical Mission located in Nekkeng, Aimeliik. It is the leading agricultural experimental station funded by the Government of Taiwan. The schools receiving schools were the elementary schools in Airai, Koror, Aimeliik, Ngerchelong, Ngaraard, Meyuns, and Palau High School.
Senator Tommy Remengesau Jr. proposed a bill to reinstate the Palau National Youth Congress. The Youth Congress would make recommendations to the OEK regarding youth programs and would act as a legislative body having the power to make its own rules, establish committees, hold hearings, pass resolutions and prepare and pass bills.
PPUC is implementing a master plan to rid Palau of unwanted power outages. The plan was developed by outside consultants and is supported by the President. The plan is to replace all power generators with 5 mega-Watt generators by the year 2019 in three phases, with the first phase to be completed by 2013.
The U.S Department of state has released the 2008 Human Rights Report for Palau. The report found the Palau government generally respected the human rights of its citizens. There are fair courts, religious freedom, and no political prisoners. The report found only a few issues including government corruption, domestic violence, trafficking in persons, and harassment and discrimination against and abuse of foreign workers.
No judgment has yet been issued in the civil suit against Senator Diaz and former Senator Seid for criminal assault. The matter is pending before Associate Judge Foster.
According to a letter written by the Special Prosecutor to the Senate President on Monday, February 23, Senator Diaz broke the law when he authored, voted and argued on a bill to shut down his only media competitor in the market. The Special Prosecuter explained that Senators may have gotten careless or may not even be aware of the Code of Ethics but the law is clear: a government official is prohibited from using his position to benefit his own financial interests. The Special Prosecutor has threatened criminal prosecution against Diaz under the Code of Ethics and also stated that Diaz's violation can serve as the predicate offense for the felony crime of misconduct in Public office. The Special Prosecutor urged the Senate to develop policies that would ensure that the members of the Senate police themselves and do not continue to violate the Code of Ethics. The Special Prosecutor has given the Senate until March 5, 2009 to take remedial action.
Palau's new administration had stated its intent to become more foreign investor friendly. A new Foreign Investment Act has been proposed to increase foreign investment and to create a simplified and objective process for applicants. After public hearing, and extensive input from the Chamber of Commerce, the new Foreign Investment act passed second reading in the House of Delegates. The new law reduces the minimum investment in Palau from $500,000 to $250,000.
The Foreign Investment Board is not the only Board under threat of dissolution. In a new bill introduced by Senator Joel Toribiong, to dissolve the boards of PPUC and PNCC and combine the boards to one board called PCUC made up of 5 presidential appointees.
Senator Regis Akitaya also has introduced a bill to dissolve EQPB and to transfer the employees to the new Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Tourism. Senator Akitaya explains that there would be a cost savings if the work of EQPB were incorporated into the new ministry in which is entrusted to protect and manage the environment. Finally, another bill threatens Palau Visitors Authority's existence.
Friday the Koror voters will have a chance to elect a new legislator for the seat left vacant by Paul Ueki. There are 4,824 registered voters who have 6 candidates to choose from. Results will be issued in next Friday.
The newly built US embassy in Arai will open its doors on March 2, 2009. Visa and consular services will not be available during the first week of March, but will resume on March 10.
Bilung Gloria Salii spoke to nearly 200 women at the annual Airai Women's Conference yesterday. She acknowledged that women are being overworked, and stressed the importance of family life and tradition.
Former AG Jeff Beattie, in a letter to the editor of Palau Horizon, warned of the great danger in making investigations public since an investigation only means somebody has alleged wrongdoing and sometimes the allegation is credible and sometimes it isn't but either way the reputation of the subject is forever tainted. In this case, the former AG was alleged not to have attended a conference in Beijing that he received government funds to attend. The former AG claims not only that did he attend the conference but also he was a speaker at the conference. He has produced photos to prove his attendance.
Some good news: PPUC has announced a 1-cent decrease in the electric rate effective March 1, 2009. Also, Palau's power supply is back to normal after repair of the engine at the Aimeliik power plant. The one week lo ng power rationing has ended.
On the other side of the world, India is promoting the health benefits of urine and has furthered that statement by creating a softdrink made out of cow urine. Om Prakash told reporters of the London Times that India needed a domestic beverage that would compete with the foreign influence of Coca-Cola and Pepsi and promised that," It won't smell like urine, and it will be tasty too."
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