The truth shall set you free
Tia Belau Editorial, May 27, 2013 —-
Finally, we now have some level of economic data to assess and compare the status of many of our economic sectors.
The Fiscal Year 2012 Economic Statistics provides us some understanding of where we are in terms of our economic development. Data from the report were used to form a major part of President Remengesau’s State of the Republic Address.
WORDS FROM ORAKIDORM is a new op-ed column published every Thursday issue in TIA BELAU. The author requests that I let the readers guess who the writer is. Hint: It’s not a difficult guess, especially if you’ve been reading this newspaper for several years.
In this inaugural article, I decided to write about commitments to the words, “I swear”. Recently, I read in the newspaper several open letters discussing family trees and the right to traditional chiefly titles. We have had several incidence in the past where these struggles between the bearers of stewardship of traditional titles have fought among themselves as to who is the legitimate matriarch who shall decide. This is becoming quite common and involves many families and clans in Palau.
By Jackson M. Henry —-
First Hawaiian Bank’s motto is: “The bank that says yes”. It is one of the most catchy marketing phrase and the most people friendly slogan that any bank has come up with. The slogan expresses the core principle the bank operates on, which very much in line with the famous Hawaiian spirit of Aloha. The word “Yes” in the slogan is a powerful attention grabber which has captivated many disgruntled customers from other “No” banks to move their accounts to First Hawaiian Bank.
By Jackson M. Henry —-
27.3 million American became victims of cyber crimes in the past 5 years, according to identity theft expert, Steve Weisman. This is not hard to believe since we in Palau get Nigerian emails scams just about every time we log on to the internet. In fact, I got a call yesterday from a soft speaking lady claiming to represent a trading house in New York city. She wants my email address so she can email me the website of a firm that has financial services for my real estate development projects. I could tell the voice is Asian and so I politely told her that I am not interested and hung up the phone.
Tia Belau Editorial, October 29, 2012 —-
Last week, in this editorial space we wrote about “President’s three big challenges,” that President Toribiong needs to overcome if he is to win this election for his second tour (third term) in office.
Conventional wisdom suggests that an incumbent president who in just four years, have taken part in the enactment and implementation of several major pieces of legislations and initiatives, that are bound to restructure Palau’s economy for many years to come, should be riding high on the waves of popularity.
Tia Belau Editorial, September 27, 2012 —
In 1979, our founding fathers sat for 55 days to carve out the dream of democracy and freedom for all Palauans. And one thing that was central in their thinking was the idea of giving everybody a voice. What we performed in the voting booth last Tuesday is as citizens exercising our freedom to express our opinion as to who would do a better job leading our country, albeit with secret ballot.
In Nadi, Fiji connecting this morning to the Solomon Islands…I will be missing the two-days of debates scheduled for Aug. 14-15. I can’t bear the thought of waiting another four years – until 2016 – for another round of presidential and vice presidential debates.
…and life goes on.
Kambes
17 July 2012
Serial No. 2012-057
Dear Madame Ambassador Reed-Rowe:
I write in my capacity as the Chairman of President Toribiong’s Compact Review Advisory Group (“CRAG”). The CRAGhas asked me to contact you to lodge its strong complaint and disappointment at the decided lack of progress on the ratification of the Compact Review Agreement.
By Fuana Tmarsel —-
Death has assaulted Palau violently shaking every family, clan, and the whole society. Every week our friends, co-workers and acquaintances are grieved with a loss of a loved one. This is strenuous both emotionally and economically especially because our culture demands relatives to contribute financially towards funeral expenses. However, natural demise is an understandable human phenomenon that approaches us all as we grow older, or encounter terminal illness. We know that to live is to expect to die – someday.
Del. Secilil Eldebechel announced his intention to run againto represent the state of Ngchesar in House of Delegate of the Olbiil Era Kelulau. From Palau 2012 Facebook Group Palau 2012 on May 3o, he made public his declaration and election platform.
Ses Eldebechel
Dear valued members of the Palau 2012:
Please allow me to share my campaign message and my platform for the 2012 election. I welcome any comments, questions, and even constructive criticism.
By Jackson Henry —-
A Bishop once told his congregation, “On your shoulders, dear young people of the entire earth, weights the responsibility to transform tomorrow’s world into a society where peace, harmony and fraternity reign”. The Bishop’s captivating words highlights just how important it is to harness the power of youth here inPalaubecause the future of this nation lies in their hands. In our quest to build a vibrant economy,Palau’s youth is our greatest asset and the future pillars of our country.
By Fuana Tmarsel —-
His story is one of sadness and sheer determination to live, and to achieve a dream, even against all odds. He was sent to orphanage at three years of age. At five, he ran away after he was bullied and beaten, and for the next ten years, he lived on the streets. “ I lived like a day fly”, he said, “ selling gums and energy drinks to survive.” He slept on stairs, toilets and container boxes. Choi who became an overnight internet sensation, tells how local criminal gangs did not want him selling gum in their turf and once took him to a nearby mountain, dug a hole and buried him. But despite the hardships and adversities, he survived and made his public debut in Korea’s Got Talent Show.
By Kambes Kesolei —-
Its 2012 on the campaign trail….and here’s Candidate F in the neighborhood going house to house…
Candidate F: Alii…Alii?
Mechas: Auwang.
Candidate F: Uh…um…uh…It’s me y-your candidate F.
Mechas: I can’t hear you. Come closer. I have a hard time hearing on my left ear, there’s no medicine at the hospital to get it fixed.
By Jackson Henry —-
Dr. Lucido has been a medical practitioner inSan Franciscosince 1979. He prescribes a special “medicine” to 900 patients annually. What is this special medicine? Well, you guessed it right. It is Cannabis, thanks to the legalization of Medical Cannabis (MC) inCaliforniain 1996 with the passage of Proposition #215. Today, 14 states have also passed MC laws and more forthcoming. Dr. Lucido is now a member of US Medical Education Committee promoting and lecturing on the medical benefits of Cannabis.
8
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION NO. 11-15
Declaration of a State of Emergency November 7, 2011 Whereas, on Saturday, November 5, at approximately 5 o'clock p.m., electrical power to all of Babeldaob and much of Koror was suddenly interrupted without notice due to a catastrophic fire at the Aimeliik power plant, which completely destroyed at least one generator and all of the controls for the facility. The Aimeliik power plant is currently unable to produce any electrical power, thus leaving the Malakal power plant as the sole source of electrical generation for Babeldaob and Koror. However, the Malakal power plant presently does not have enough generating capacity even to supply electricity to all of Koror at the same time. On a rotating rationed basis power has been partially restored to Koror, Airai and Aimeliik, but the electricity remains off in most of Babeldaob and will continue to be off for the foreseeable future; and
