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Official Results of Palau’s 9th General Election are in
The official results for Palau’s ninth general election held on November 6 have been calculated. According to the Palau Election Commission, out of 15, 397 registered voters, 10,603 ballots were cast giving Palau a 69% voter turnout. Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr. took the Presidency beating his opponent with 59% of the vote. Remengesau is set to become Palau’s first President to serve three terms. In a very close race for Vice- President, Antonio Bells beat his opponent Kerai Mariur with 52% of the vote. In the Senate race, after the abstentee ballots were counted, Greg Ngirmang lost his spot by only 41 votes to Joel Toribiong. For a full listing of the election commission results as well as statistical analyses, please visit our website at www.oceaniatv.net.
Egypt mediates cease-fire after Clinton arrives
President Obama, after winning his second term, publicly recognized Israel’s right to defend itself against the terrorist Hamas organization. Obama stated that “no country on earth would tolerate missles raining down on its …citizens.” During this eight day conflict Hamas launched more than 1000 missles at Israel, many of which were successfully intercepted by Israel’s superior rocket defense system.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton arrived in the region and mediated a ceasefire with the assistance of Egypt’s President Mursi.
U.S. Israel and Palau only 3 countries to vote Yes to Cuba embargo
For the 21stconsecutive year the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. on the small island nation of Cuba. Cuba has been blocked from trade with the U.S. since 1960 following Cuba’s take-over of all U.S. companies and properties on the island. Despite188 member states voting in favor of the resolution to lift the embargo, only three countries: Israel, the U.S. and Palau voted against it. The Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia abstained from voting. Despite continuing insistence from the international community, the U.S. continues its embargo on Cuba.
EU warns 8 nations of poor illegal fishing enforcement
The European Commission has issued a yellow card warning to 8 countries including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu for its poor track record in tackling the issue of illegal fishing. An action plan for each country on how to improve illegal fishing enforcement has been drawn up, and the Commission will follow up on each country’s progress with an assessment report 6 months from now.
PNA continues ban on high seas foreign fishing vessels
A group of 7 island nations known as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, which include FSM, Marshalls, and Palau, is facing increased pressure by members of the WCPFC to open up its high seas pockets to foreign fishing vessels. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission will discuss this at their meeting in Manila on December 6. High seas pockets are areas of the high seas where island countries’ territorial waters overlap. These areas are ideal for illegal fishing since enforcement that far out at sea is difficult. Nanette Malsol, the PNA chair, stated that despite these increasing pressures “fishing nations should know that no matter what happens at the WCPFC, the high seas pockets around PNA countries will remain closed.”
Senator Toribiong Expected To Recommend Senate Confirm Current AG for Palau’s Special Prosecutor
The Republic of Palau has been without a Special Prosecutor al three years. Now, less than two months before a change in the administration, Senator Toribiong is pushing forward. Back in July 11, 2012 Senator Toribiong wrote a letter to the President arguing against the need for a Special Prosecutor and stated that the government “cannot afford luxuries such as two prosecuting agencies. On November 19, 2012, Senator Toribiong requested his Committee meet at Joe’s Bar and Restaurant to finalize Foster’s recommendation. The proposed SP, Brently Foster, is currently employed with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). The AGO is legal counsel to the President. As an Assistant Attorney General, Foster has already reviewed nearly 50 cases from the former SP’s Office and prepared a status report on each of these cases. This status report is available to the Attorney General and President. Since these cases were assigned to the SP so that they have “have the greatest degree of independence” from the President, there is immediate concern whether her independence has already been compromised.
If Sen. Toribiong brings the matter to a vote, it can be decided while the so-called majority block of eight still controls the Senate. Nine Senators are required for a quorum, but if the 5 minority Senators do not attend the session for voting on this matter, they could effectively block Foster’s SP appointment. If confirmed, the Special Prosecutor would serve a term of five years.
Palau’s tap water in 5 states undrinkable
In Palau, the residents of Ngarchelong, Ngatpang, and Ngiwal States have been warned that their tap water is undrinkable. In addition to these three states, the Environmental Quality Protection Board warns residents of Ngermetengel in Ngeremlengui and Ngerulmud not to drink their tap water. Tests conducted by EQPB on Nov. 13 and 14 of the water systems in these areas showed the presence of Coliform Bacteria. The EQPB has yet to determine the reason and source of the contamination thereby simply advising residents for now to boil water for at least one minute from boiling point before consumption.
Traditional of 16 Pacific islands meet in Pohnpei
Holding on to traditions despite modernization is a recurring theme here in the Pacific Islands. The Micronesian Traditional Leaders Conference, a coalition of traditional leaders from Micronesia, has formed a larger coalition known as the Council of Pacific Island Traditional Leaders. Now this council consists of traditional leaders from the 16 pacific island nations who are members of the Pacific Islands Forum. This week, the council sponsored the first ever summit of traditional leaders in the Pacific held in Pohnpei. In attendance, were traditional leaders from Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, FSM, Guam, CNMI, and Palau among others. The theme of the meeting was “Standing up for our pacific island indigenous rights, preserving our cultural heritage, values, and resources.” OTV will continuet to follow this story on the results of this Pasifika leadership meeting.
Compact Review Team highlights Kosrae Recycling Facility
While the FSM Compact Peer Review team visited Kosrae they found a good example of the government outsourcing an operation to the private sector. Every month the Kutkut Mwo Materials Recovery Facility owned by Maria Fanelli goes around Kosrae buys trash from the community. Last year, the community received $85,000 for trash. This trash is taken to the facility and sorted. Cans and plastic containers are flattened and exported along with discarded car batteries to Korea, China, or Hong. The facility was funded by the United Nations Development Program for the Kosrae state government.
Ayuda Foundations donates school supplies to Chuuk
The Ayuda foundation recently made a donation of school supplies to the island of Chuuk. The foundation sent 200 boxes of rulers, pencils, notebooks, crayons and back packs, in addition to thousands of school textbooks and library books. The cargo was consigned to the Chuuk Women’s Council, where it will be sorted, inventoried and distributed. The President of the council, Kiki Stinnett says the council is looking forward to the project because there is also a considerable amount of donated linens, office furniture, and thousands of slippers for children. The linens are meant to help the comfort of patients confined to their beds. The Ayuda foundation, a division of the Association of Pacific Island Legistlatures or APIL, usually donates to the outer islands of Chuuk through the Pohnpei based hospital/cargo ship the Sea Haven. With their new partnership with the Chuuk Women’s Council, the foundation hopes to increase efforts in helping Weno, its neighboring lagoon islands.
Micronesian Futures Forum held in Palau
This week, OTV in collaboration with the Public Institute of Public Policy out of Vanautu, held a think tank forum on Micronesian Futures. The panelists hailed from Palau, the Marshall Islands and even as far as Tonga, with Father Fran Hezel, Journalist Kalafi Moala, Minister of Education Hilda Heine, Senator Whipps,and Semdiu Decherong All questions for the panelists came from the audience. The issues for discussion included how much money do we need to make us happy? Can we ever be self-sufficient given the population size and economic realities of our small island states? How can we better manage our resources? And how can the Pacific nations band together to create regional success stories, like a regional airline? The discussion was lively and provoking. OTV will be airing the forum. It will also air across the South Pacific and Melanesia.
OTV Hosts “THIS IS MICRONESIA” MEDIA Training Workshop
OTV sponsored its first of two media training workshop for participants across Micronesia, in a program called “This is Micronesia”. The training is intended to create independent producers. The workshop had five participants, from Palau, Yap and the Chuuk. The workshop was the brainchild of Jeff Barabe and was funded by PACMAS and AusAid. Featured guests taught a diverse range of subjects, including production, storytelling, ethics in journalism, climate change as a human story, and cinematography.