Koror, Palau -Members of Palau Senate “minority” bloc filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Infrastructure, Industries and Commerce (MPIIC) and its Minister for violation of the Open Government Act for refusing to disclose information and release government documents pertaining the airport expansion agreement with Japan Airport Terminal. Civil Action 18-025 filed on January 29 before the Palau Supreme Court, is the first legal case brought forward under the Open Government

Most annual address by our nation’s president to the Olbiil Era Kelulau keep true to their basic outline — economy, tourism, health, education, and etc. We have grown to have a pretty good idea of what would be the main elements to be covered by President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr’s upcoming state of the republic address on April 13. If you are counting, this would be an unprecedented thirteenth time Remengesau has given the annual progress report to the national congress. But o

A last ditch effort for the outgoing Ninth OEK to give new life to Land Court before closing out its term appear to have failed following the House of Delegates rejection of the conference committee report on bill, SB 9-188, SD1, HD1, CD1. The bill restores the power of the Land Court to conduct hearings and determine land ownership. Anastacio Senior The subject bill removed amendments by the House limiting it to returning operationa

At the oversight hearing conducted yesterday by the House Committee on Banking and Financial Matters, with the Board of the National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP), Speaker Sabino Anastacio got distracted by the sleeveless dress wore by the bank's president to the hearing. NDBP President Claire Harvey second from left in a purple sleeveless dress. Despite Harvey's presence in the hearing, Anastacio directed the comments to NDBP chairman, Marino Rechesengel in Palauan. "Th

President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., explains at the press conference yesterday why the presidential directive he issued on 18 April 2016 is not the same as the declaration of the state of emergency, in which he sought and failed to get a second extension. #Drought #OlbiilEraKelulau #ElNino #PresidentTommyRemengesau #Pacific

Tenure to End on June 19 The termination clause of Interim Special Prosecutor Melissa Simms’ employment contract has been triggered, putting an end to a short tenure at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, one of Palau’s most controversial offices. “The Senate has vilified me, calling me incompetent and making other accusations, which was broadcast live over the radio to the Palauan public,” said Simms in her letter to Attorney General John Bradley on April 6. ISP Melssa Sim

As extreme drought continues to tighten its grip on Palau, the water crisis sparked a political showdown between disagreeing senators and President Tommy Remenegsau Jr. over the extension of the state of emergency (SOE) declaration. Despite claiming that the consensus at the joint leadership meeting Wednesday showed that “SOE is crucial to mitigate this drought crisis we are experiencing,” Remengesau did not convince the senators to reconsider adopting the resolution calling