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A published court schedule set two trials this week on charges of official misconduct and other violations of law by…

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A young man was found dead on Friday, July 16, 2021 by a passerby after seeing a highly tinted sedan…

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Public auditor recommends actions by AG and SP but no action taken, President SWJ and AG Rengiil have audit reportThe…

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Palau saw its second road fatality of the year last Saturday morning, March 19, 2021, when a vehicle re- portedly…

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With governor disabled and hospitalized from a car accident for over two months now and
legislative speaker under court indictment for serious felony charges, the 8 th Olbiil Ra
Ngerchumelbai (Airai state legislature) finally acted to resolve an apparent government
crisis.They removed the current speaker and selected a successor back to back on Wednesday
night.
A special session of the legislature was called Wednesday evening at the Legislative Hall in Airai
State during which Resolution No. 8-25 was introduced by nine members to remove Delegate
Clinton J. Freese as the Speaker and Presiding Officer of the 8 th Olbiil Ra Ngerchumelbai. The
resolution states that “the members of the Eight Olbiil Ra Ngerechumelbai have lost confidence
in the leadership of Speaker Clinton J. Freese” and “such loss of confidence is manifested in the
desire for his removal to allow for changes in the leadership and direction of the Eighth Olbiil Ra
Ngerchumelbai. “
Speaker Freese and vice speaker Helena Rois Yoichi Arurangdid not show up so Floor Leader
Sano Sakurai presided and called the vote according to a Delegate. It was 9 YES and 2 NO. The
nine who introduced the resolution and voted for it are Delegates StephanieNgirchoimei, David
Orrekum, O’DearYobech, Ralph Kanai, Peter Adelbai, Ricky Rubario Simeon, Clive Kelib Telei,
Sherman Daniel, and Kimberly Elarionoff.
Two legislators reported that right after Freese removal, another resolution, number 8-26 was
introduced by the same nine members to appoint David A. Orrukem as the new Speaker and
was voted on. The result was the same, 9 YES to 2 NO.

As soon as Orrukem was sworn into office, one legislator said the legislature will declare a
vacancy in the office of the governor due to the disability of Gov. Tmewang Rengulbai as shown
in court documents. Airai constitution provides for a vacancy of the office of the governor if the
governor resigns, dies, or is disabled, The Speaker will fill the position for 60 days in which a
special election willheld if the over six months remain as in this case. The next Airai election will
be in 2022. If within six months, the Speaker will serve the remaining months of the term of the
disabled governor.

At noon today, Palau will install a new president to lead this country of nearly 20,000 for the next four years. Incoming President Surangel Whipps Jr will be sworn-in to office at the grounds of the capitol complex in Ngerulmud, Melekeok.

He will take office as the eighth person elected to the highest office of the land. The outgoing president, Tommy E. Remengesau Jr has done it twice in 2000-2008 and 2012-2020.

The incoming president will be introduced by his father Rekemesik Surangel Whipps Sr and mother Dirrainglai Marylin Whipps. Chief Justice OldiaisNgiraikelau will administer the oath of office to the president-elect.

After officially sworn-in to office, a symbolic transfer of leadership from President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr to President Whipps Surangel Whipps jr.

President Whipps will give his inaugural address to the nation before the closing of the ceremony.

Before the swearing-in of the president, incoming vice president J. Uduch Sengebau Senior will be sworn-in by Presiding Judge Kathleen M. Salii as vice president. 

Elected lawmakers of the 11th Olbiil Era Kelulau of both the House and the Senate will take the oath-of-office in the morning before the installation of the president.

After the official ceremony, lunch will be served with entertainments afterward.

99-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT GOING THROUGHAPPROVAL PROCESS

New Kayangel governor, Richard Ngiraked, said that the approval process in the state legislature is continuing for the 99-year lease of the seabed around Ngerbelas island, however, hehas returned the $100,000 check written to the state that was not deposited in the bank as it was held in the state office.

He said the lease agreementsigned bythe outgoing governor and the company -Grand Legend International Asset Management Group Co. Ltd. that requires the first payment of $100,000 to be made and it was made in a check. The check and the agreement were presented to him after he took office.  He signed a new agreement so that it could be submitted to the legislature for approval. The check was kept in the office and was not intended to be used until and if the agreement is approved.

The legislature is doing its job under the law in holding hearings and if they approve then the check can be used, added Governor Ngiraked who was elected in May last year aftera closely contested election.

When asked why he returned the check to the official of the company when it was not illegal to hold or deposit it in a bank to await the approval process, Ngiraked said after the story about the lease was published in December, he saw many questions and negative comments publicly and in the social media which are not true. He wanted to set the records straight.

“As a former national tax official, I am very familiar with government financial transactions and the need for proper handling of funds going into government which must comply with the law,” Gov. Ngiraked said. 

GovernorNgiraked said he is supporting the proposed resort for Ngerbelas, which will stimulate economic development of the state and can provide employment to the people but the size of the area of 699,900 square meters of seabed around Ngerbelas, may be too large and can be reduced and still can accommodate such major and unique resort.The state legislature held a first hearing in Kayangel last month and will do a second in Koror this month according to the state speaker.