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NEWS STORIES FOR FRIDAY September 24, 2010

Bill introduced to increase minimum wage and taxes

A new hike in minimum wage is being considered in the OEK. A raise to 3.25 an hour for Palauan citizens has been proposed by Senator Akitaya. The minimum wage does not effect foreign workers, increasing the gap between hiring locally and hiring foreigners. The increase will cost employers nearly $2,000 a year per employee. While the government is raising taxes to pay the increase for government wages, there is no mention in the bill on how private companies should pay for the increase.

To pay for the proposed government wage increase the bill also introduces new import taxes on alcohol and cigarettes including a $2 import tax on every pack of cigarettes. The largest increase is a sales tax of 2.37 per liter on beer and 10.13 per liter on liquor. With this increase, the tax alone on a can of beer will be $1.20, while the tax on a 750 ml bottle of liquor will be over $15. Other increases include 75% on imported bottled water, 2 cents per gallon increase of gas and various increases on automobiles and automobile parts. A 10% tax on canned beef and pork products is also included with that fund being earmarked for the medical savings fund.

Alien Registration challenged

In what may be the first case of itís type in the Republic of Palau, a foreign worker has filed a class action lawsuit against the Republic of Palau, The President and the bureau of immigration for implementing the Alien Registration Fee. In the suit several complaints are raised including:

Violation of Equal Protection,

Violation of Due Process,

Unconstitutional Tax,

Unconstitutional Usurpation of Legislative Power and

Invalid Regulations.Two main points of the lawsuit are that a specific group may not be targeted for tax. In this case Palauans, Americans, Marshallese, Micronesians and Diplomats are exempted leaving Philippinos, Taiwanese and Japanese as the major payees. The suit also claims imposing taxes is a job of the congress not the executive branch.

The lawsuit was approved as a class action suit meaning that if the plaintiff Bernadette Carreon wins the suit, all foreign workers win. The suit is asking to have the fee invalidated and the money already collected refunded to the persons who have already paid. OTV spoke with the Department of Immigration about the ongoing registration.

<<<INTERVIEW>>>

There were reportedly several attempts to file a similar suit, however in each case the plaintiff backed out fearing retribution and deportation. The Temporary restraining order was denied by the Chief Justice, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 28th, just two days before the registration ends.

President Toribiong attends 65th UN General Assembly

President Johnson Toribiong and his delegation team departed Palau earlier this week to attend the 65th United Nations General Assembly session in New York. The Millennium Development Goals Summit was also held for three days this week where world leaders debated and revealed each of their countries progress towards achieving the goals. Amongst the many world leaders were heads of Pacific island nations including the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands who came together with concrete national plans and showed their collective determination to achieve all eight goals by 2015. No one from Palau, however, reported on the republicís status towards reaching the goals at the summit. Currently, the Pacific region along with sub-Sahara Africa ranks as the two regions in the world with the least progress towards meeting the millennium goals. President Toribiong is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly on Saturday morning Palau time.

Honduras joins Palau as it declares shark sanctuary

Joining the fight to conserve and protect sharks within their waters, President of Honduras Porfirio Lobo signed a joint declaration on shark sanctuary with President Johnson Toribiong during the 65th United Nations General Assembly. The two leaders also urged other coastal nations to sign the declaration. Palau declared the Worldís first shark sanctuary last year followed by the Maldives and now Honduras. The three nations are the only nations in the world, who has banned shark fishing in their waters.

President Toribiong pardons a Japanese convict

A Japanese national, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, and hit-and-run was granted a full pardon from President Toribiong. The Palau National Parole Board, Director of the Bureau of Public Safety and Minister of Justice all recommended that the petition for executive clemency be granted. Last year, Kota Kobaii fatally hit a 19-year old PCC student, while she crossed the street. However, President Toribiong believes that Kobaii is remorseful of his past criminal activity even though it cost a life.

US CDC awards $100,000 to Palau's MOH

The Republic of Palau has been awarded funding from the US Center for disease control and prevention, through its National Public Health Improvement Program. The funding consists of two components. In one component, the Ministry of Health received $100,000 towards the Palau Public Health Transformation Project. The project focuses on building and establishing performance management capacity within health departments. In addition, the CDC awarded $1.6 million to the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA), which includes Palau, Marshall Islands, Guam, CNMI and American Samoa. The funds will be used to improve and enhance public health system in each country. The program is supported through the US Prevention and Public Health Fund of the Affordable Care Act.

UKIHL continues to make headlines

The controversial United Kingdom Investment holdings Limited continue to make headlines around Palau as it gets another chance with the Foreign Investment Board. The company was originally set to meet the board on September 16th to discuss their pending application. But due to other affairs in their home country, they were not able to attend. Felix Davidson, UKIHL Director and son of Morris Davidson requested to have the meeting moved to November. Though FIB approved, they warned that this would be their last chance.

Arab league endorses funding to Pacific Islands

The Arab League has endorsed the United Arab Emirates initiative to promote co-operation between Arab countries and Pacific island states. The decision was made by at a meeting held by the Arab League Council on September 20th. This initiative is aimed at helping trade and investment between the Arab nations and the Pacific island nations such as Solomon Islands, Palau, Nauru, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, FSM and the Marshall Islands. The UAE has pledged funding for a US$50 million aid programme covering these island nations who are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Plans to open a regional office in Fiji are underway.

PCS weekly news

Lets go to Yalap Yalap from Palau Conservation Society for this weekís environmental news.

<<CLIP>>

<<<BREAK>>>

MOH host conference on climate change in Palau

Climate change has become the leading cause of environmental and health problems around the world. In efforts to make awareness in Palau, the Ministry of Health hosted a conference at the Palasia Hotel to discuss the upcoming project to help address the matter. OTV staff attended the conference with more...

<<<INTERVIEW>>>

BTA, PCOC holds a special meeting on healthcare fund

Though many negative feedbacks surround the National Healthcare Fund, the Belau Tourism Association and Palau Chamber of Commerce held a special meeting at Palau Pacific Resort to educate its members of the benefits. Social Security Administrator Gregorio Ngirmang made the presentation to the attendees and even received hard-to-answer questions. The Healthcare fund will require all employees to contribute 2.5% of their income beginning October 1st, but will not be accessible until April of 2011. Some of the benefits includes; medication, off-island medical treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatments. Vice President and Chairman of the healthcare fund Kerai Mariur attended the meeting, but did not make any comment towards the highly unfavourable healthcare act.

Global warming puts a strain on farming

With the rise of global warming, many Palauan women experience the hardship in planting crops. More and more families have resulted to an unhealthier way of eating as climate change makes it difficult to farm. Bilung Gloria Salii spoke on behalf of women in Palau about the effects it has made. Hereís Bilung with more details on the story...

<<<INTERVIEW>>>

Car accident caused power outage on Saturday evening

Just as PPUC recovers from the recent island-wide power outage, a reckless driver crashes into a power pole in Aimeliik on Saturday September 18th. The crash damaged the power pole along with transmission wires, which caused the power outage in parts of Koror and Airai. It took technicians nearly 2-hours to repair the damage and get the power back online. The unknown driver will be held responsible for the damages to the power pole and the power outage.

Nicolos Restaurant in Topside burglarized

A fairly new restaurant in Topside was burglarized in the early morning hours of Monday September 20th. While the owners slept, unidentified suspects broke into Nicolos, stealing five laptops, leaving cash and other expensive items. OTV reporter spoke to Nicolosí owner Nick Ngirailild with more on the incidentÖ

<<<INTERVIEW>>>

Indonesian police kills priest and son by gunfire

On September 15th Reverend Kuan, his wife and his 23-year old son were shot at by police in West Papua, Indonesia. The police opened fire on the three while they were trying to calm church members down who were enraged by a previous incident involving the police. The police claimed that a mob attacked them with stones causing them to open fire in self-defense; however, witnesses say that is untrue. The Reverend and his son died on the scene and the Reverend's wife remains in intensive care due to a gunshot wound in her neck. Thousands in a peace rally carried the bodies of the Reverend and his son to the West Papua Governorís office and mourning demonstrators urged the police and the central government to take responsibility for the assassinations and crimes against indigenous Papuans. The West Papua National Authority is calling for an urgent dispatch of UN militarized peace-keepers in West Papua to contain the excesses of the Indonesian security forces against the indigenous population since the Jakartan government appears to be unwilling to practice normal standards of military discipline.

Marshall Islands Social Security Administration struggles

The Republic of Marshall Islands Social Security Administration faces extreme financial disability as numerous governmental agencies continues to skip payments. Several agencies don't pay taxes, while others don't pay at all. According to sources, most businesses withheld taxes from employee's compensation, but fails to match and forward the withholdings to Social Security. Currently, the retirement plan can only cover 25% of its long-term retirement liability of more than $200 million, which can cause problems in the future. The national government is now looking at possible job and salary cutbacks to relieve some of the burden the MISSA faces. Sources say if the government takes no immediate action; the MISSA will become bankrupt in a few years.

Guam seeks visa waiver for visiting Russian and Chinese tourists

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is examining the possibility of using its parole authority for Chinese and Russian visitors bound for Guam. Chinese and Russians are currently not included in the waiver program so they are unable to land and visit Guam without a visa. Currently there is a visa waiver program in place for Chinese and Russian tourists seeking entry to CNMI, but not for Guam. This visa waiver is intended to help Guamís currently sluggish tourist economy. Guamís governor supports the waiver.

Oldest newpaper in the Pacific sold

The Fiji Times is the highest circulation English language newspaper in any Pacific island state. This week, the Fiji Times was sold to a local Fiji business called "MOTIBHAI GROUP" The newspaper officially shifted ownership hands on September 22nd. This ownership change happens amidst Fijiís current government censorship on media. Some say the independence of the newspaper is at stake and others say the sale will help to secure the newspapers survival during this time where free press is threatened by new laws imposed by the government. However, the future of Fiji Times, a newspaper that is 141 years old, is still too early to predict.

Defeat for Lady Gaga, Obama and gays in the US

The world of politics and pop collided this week when Lady Gaga pleaded with the United States Senate, and specifically Senator John McCain, to overturn a 17 year old law known as "don't ask, don't tell" which bans gays from openly serving in the U.S military. In a taped message, Lady Gaga claims to be the voice for the youth of America and stated that the "Don't ask, Don't tell" law is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and an infringement on the civil liberties of gay and lesbian servicemen who are being searched, targeted, and dishonorably discharged without regard to the value of their service. What was Lady Gaga's effect on the Senate? None at all.

PPR works with Ngerkebesang Youth

As part of their community outreach program, the Palau Pacific Resort held a meeting with the Ngerkebesang Youth to find ways to join both groups within the community. The group talked about forming positive activities that is both educational and beneficial. Many of the young individuals who attended showed interest in employment opportunities with the Resort. The youth also hoped to be involved in the upcoming Christmas parade as well as the staff Christmas party. PPR continues to extend a hand to the Youth Community in efforts engage and connect with the community.

This year's Independence day celebration

Many activities are planned for this yearís Independence Day celebration. On October 1st, a bike race/challenge around babeldaob begins. Followed by the Parade of nations and the Opening ceremony at the old OEK grounds at 8am. From 9am onwards, booths will be open for displays and sales. In the afternoon, a music contest program will be begins and traditional games competition will be going on at Asahi field. In the evening, performance arts competition will be proceeding, so bring your family down to the old OEK grounds. Enjoy great food, entertainment and celebrate our Independence.Programs and activities will continue throughout the weekend including the boat race at JP bridge.