Your watching the "Weekend Report" for March 20, 2009 (requires Quicktime 7.4)
Below is the text vesion of the weekend report with headlines from around Palau and the Pacific.
NEWS:
At the top of the news is the report transmitted to President Toribiong from the PPUC task force. This report found that the management and board failed to implement a reliable maintenance plan and recommended the President accept the courtesy resignations of the board and appoint new members as soon as possible. The report goes on to state that PPUC should obtain two, 2 megawatt generators within six months to allow for standby capability and maintenance of existing generators. The report also found that PPUC has 3 million in receivables with 400 thousand due from residences, 610 thousand from businesses, 560 thousand from organizations and 1.8 million from the Palau government.
Last week during his trip to Washington D.C. President Toribiong requested that the United states extend the economic terms of Palau's Compact of Free Association for one more year. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, was informed that the Republic of Marshal Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia had received extensions at the end of their compact. The economic terms of the compact between Palau and the US are due to expire on Oct.1.
Clinton stated that she would sympathetically consider the request and acknowledged Palau's staunch support of US policies at the United Nations and for the loyalty and sacrifice of many young Palauans who have served in the US Military.
In an effort to prioritize the compact review, President Toribiong has elevated the compact negotiator Joshua Koshiba to ambassadorial rank.
Also during his trip, Palau became the 56th country to recognize Kosovo as the newest state in Europe. The consular office of the Republic of Kosovo received a letter from President Toribiong confirming that Palau recognizes Kosovo as an independent and a sovereign state.
The President also made several stops through Washington including a visit to the Vietnam memorial where he placed flowers under the names of the Palauans who died in the conflict.
The Public Forum on Tourism was held today at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center with the theme, "Tourism is Everyone's Business". The Public Forum, a joint collaboration by the Office of the President, Palau Visitors Authority, Belau Toursim Association and Palau Chamber of Commerce, gave members of the community an opportunity to voice concerns and ask questions related to tourism.
In a related story, the OEK may have had a change of heart regarding proposed PAN departure fees. This April, a green fee of $30 was to be added to the existing departure tax collected from every departing tourist to fund the Protected Areas Network program. The Protected Areas Network is a national framework designed to conserve Palau's natural resources including states that was enacted back in 2003. But last week, Senator Eledui introduced a bill that would repeal the law to add the $30. Senator Eledui is concerned that the payment would seem more like a penalty that would leave tourists with the wrong impression. If the Senate and House do not act quickly, collection of the fee will begin on April 1st ... or April Fools Day.
However, during today's Public Forum on Tourism, Minister Harry R. Fritz from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism assured the tourism industry that the National Government will NOT be collecting the proposed fee on April 1st as mandated by law until they resolve the issues concerning the PAN green fee.
KSG Allowance Vetoed
In a move to promote fiscal responsibility in the Government, Koror State Governor, Yositaka Adachi has formally vetoed a bill that would have increased the legislative session allowances for the Eight Koror State Legislature. In a letter addressed to the Legislatures, Governor Adachi stated that he is very "concerned that as policy makers of the State of Koror, we must be mindful of the current fiscal crisis our Republic is facing." The bill sought to double the compensation for each member of the legislature from $25 to $50.
Another Governor made headlines this week as Peleliu is set to welcome their new Governor, Kangichi Uchau, this Monday. Uchau won last Thursdays special gubernatorial election over Johannes "Hanes" Tsuneo with 262 votes to 109.
Uchau had previously ran for Governorship six times before winning the special election. OTV would like to extend their congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected Governor.
Students from Ngchesar Elementary School cleaned up Kebeas along the Compact Road in Ngchesar State on Thursday, March 19. A group of 5th graders worked all the way from the boundary in Airai to the boundary in Melekeok, cutting kebeas vines out of the trees. They were assisted by their parents and teachers, and a group of staff from the Bureau of Agriculture.
Kebeas is a fast-growing vine which can completely cover and kill trees. It has been covering trees along the Compact Road, and several states have been working with the BOA to bring it under control.
Joe Tiobech, Invasive Plant Eradication Coordinator with the BOA, praised the students for their hard work, and thanked the school Principal for organizing the effort. Mr. Tiobech told the students that their efforts will help to ensure that Palau's forests are here for generations to come.
Following the cleanup, the BOA distributed "War on Weeds" T-shirts to all the students and their parents and teachers.
Rengalek er a PCC a dirrek el kmal mle sorir el oureng a sulel a community er a support me a ngeseu el bilsterir er aika el mla mo merek el rak, me a rengalek er a bek el club me a class er a pcc a mlo tmak e melai a komi el meliuekl er a oreor lrokir el omuchel er a did el mo kebtech er rokui er a long island.
Rengalek er a Ngerchelong a ulbii el mo teams e uluusekool a yakiu barebor, omeyus me a lmuut el bebil er a klekool el dirrek el celebrate er a youth day el ngii a mlar ngii er se el sils el mle march 16th 2009 after er aikel betook el klekool e a rengalek er a Ngerchelong a mla er a btelul a chang er a oketoll el award er tirke team el mlo kats e dirrek el oureng a sulir a remle support. Vice President er a beluu er a belau el kerai mariur, Governor me a delegate er a beluu er a Ngerchelong me te dirrek dilak el celebrate er tial kmal ungil sils er a rengalek er a Ngerchelong mea beluu er Belau el rokir.
In regional news, a superior court of Guam grand jury indicted eight Guam Police Department and two others last Thursday in connection with the alleged beating of several suspect in November. One of the suspects, had to have his spleen removed during an emergency surgery after his arrest. Officers were charged with assault as a third-degree felony and as a misdemeanor and with official misconduct as a misdemeanor.
Big shout out to the Ngermelech Co-Ed softball team who are the 2009 Melekeok state champs.
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