By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The New Zealand Red Cross Society has donated anew two state-of-the-art communications equipment to be used by the 16 states through the Palau Red Cross Society.
These are the Iridium mobile phone and the so-called talking suitcase or Portable VHF Radio Repeater.
NZRCS Matthew Lloyd conducted on Tuesday Oct. 8 a workshop on how to use the equipment at the Ilang-Ilang Restaurant among the State Governors and as well as the officers of the PRCS.
Jonathan Temol Communication Officer of the Division of Transportation and Communication under the Ministry of Commerce and Trade was also present.
There are already six iridium phones that are being used in Palau, Angaur, Kayangel, Hatohobei, Sonsorol, Red Cross and Seabees.
The VHF radio repeater includes battery enclosure (16AH capacity batter, on/off switch, channel switch, main fuse, Silica Gel Pad –under battery); mobile charger kit (3-way adaptor, 3 mobile chargers, 3 spare fuses for chargers 1.6 Amp); portable radio pouch (6 handheld radios, 6 aquapac harnesses, instruction booklets); repeater enclosure (repeater, silica gel pad); Mast Storage Bag (3 mast sections, 2 antennas); battery charger kit (mains charger and AC lead, multi-adaptor mains plug, DC lead –4-pin socket to cigarette lighter plug, DC lead –Cigarette lighter socket to crocodile clips, 3 spare fuses for DC lead and battery – 5 Amp); and RF cable pouch-under (RF cable –3-meter extension, RF cable – 10-meter extension, mast cap with tie-down cord, nylon throw line on spool, spray can of water displacer).
PRCS Executive Director Miriam Chin said that the equipment could be used by all the States especially in times of disaster.