KOROR, Palau (13 Mar 2006) -- Palau President Tommy Remengesau has lashed out at Peleliu Governor Jackson Ngiraingas for what he calls a "personal attack" at him and first lady Debbie Remengesau. The president said Ngiraingas' allegations were motivated by the administration's refusal to endorse the governor's Nautilus City Project and re-appoint Ngiraingas' friend and "business partner," Morris Davidson. Ngiraingas, in his letter to the Senate on March 1, claimed that President Remengesau has financial interests in a Taiwanese company called Palau Mobile Corp. He said Remengesau, on several occasions, bought drinks for all customers at a nightclub until it ran out of alcoholic beverages. According to Ngiraingas, the president and Minister of State Temmy Shmull "are not sincere with their support for the establishment of the diplomatic and trade relations with Malaysia and the Nautilus City Resort Project for Peleliu state because there may be Taiwanese influence in the Remengesau's administration." Ngiraingas has asked the Senate to conduct a probe on the "irregularities" supposedly committed by the president, his wife, Special Prosecutor Everett Walton and two other administration officials. Ngiraingas said he found the allegations "disturbing and serious in nature," adding that as a separate branch of the government, the Senate has the constitutional responsibility to check and balance the executive branch for any "possible wrongdoing." The governor said the allegations against the president and the first lady were made by "various individuals over the last several months." In his response, the president told Ngiraingas: "I have explained my stance on these matters on numerous occasions to you, but apparently, you still cannot see the facts. Perhaps the dollar signs have obscured your vision." Asked for comment, the Senate's public information office said: "The Senate has already taken the process of looking into Jackson Ngiraingas' letter." The president said it is premature for him or anyone in the government to provide any endorsement of the Nautilus City Project because it faces many challenges before it can proceed. He said the project's proponents have to secure a foreign investment approval certificate, complete an environmental impact statement, get an earthmoving permit from the Environmental Quality Protection Board, and obtain necessary historical assessments. "I also believe that an endorsement of the project is premature because I have yet to be convinced that it can succeed financially, even if the legal requirements are met. Until such time as the project can provide more evidence of its financial capability and its probability for success, I will not consider endorsing it," the president said. Ngiraingas accused Remengesau of reneging on his commitment. "It is ironic when the president reneges on his commitment after a serious investor had spent millions of dollars — the president does not seem to care about the consequences of his actions," Ngiraingas said. Remengesau said neither he nor the first lady has financial interest in Palau Mobile Corp. The president said he also does not have money to buy drinks for everyone. It has been alleged that the first lady "had on numerous occasions paid airline travel tickets with crisp new $100 bill in large bundles which she had trouble separating the bills as they were compressed together indicating that the bills were new and had never been used. Also paying airline tickets with Traveler's Checks in US$1,000 denominations." | | UK Investments Holdings' of Malaysia aims to develop Peleliu into an international casino gambling and resort destination called Nautilus City. (Click image to open 620p x 400p graphic in new window.) According to the president, "I really do not understand why the form or the condition of the first lady's money has any significance to anything. I can assure you that we do not have a counterfeit money printing machine at our house, if that is what you are implying." It was also alleged that the "first lady had no problem issuing a check in the amount of US$20,000 to buy ownership right in the newly formed shipping company called Eurasia Pacific Lines." The president said the first lady did buy stocks from the company but only in the amount of US$2,500 for their son. "Your false and petty accusations make me wonder whether you appreciate the solemn responsibility that comes with elected office. By electing you as their governor, the people of Peleliu chose you to represent them -- to be their voice and their advocate," Remengesau said in his letter to Ngiraingas. The president said the governor should solve his own legal issues first instead of "avoiding attention" by attacking him and the first lady. Ngiraingas also asked the Senate to investigate Special Prosecutor's Walton's record specifically his "criminal and civil offenses" in 1996 and 1999 while he was still in Oregon. The Senate has just confirmed Walton for another five-year term as special prosecutor. Walton, in response to Ngiraingas, said "I have no criminal record. I have never been arrested or charged with any crime, in addition to being an active member and in good standing of the Palau bar, I am an active member in good standing of the Oregon bar, the Hawaii bar and the FSM bar and an inactive member of the Illinois bar. I have spotless records in all five jurisdictions during my 30 years of the practice of law." Walton said Ngiraingas was referring to a traffic ticket, which the special prosecutor had to pay. But Walton said he never had to appear in court and was not convicted or sentenced for anything. Walton said it is Ngiraingas who is using his position as governor to promote the Nautilius City Project. Earlier the Office of the Special Prosecutor filed a criminal case against Ngiraingas for misconduct in public office, codes of ethics violations and aiding or abetting violation of the foreign investment act. SOURCE - Palau HorizonCDNN Related NewsPALAU - Nautilus City Project sinking fastPALAU - Pro-gambling lobby rolls dice on Angaur casino bill |
