By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Peleliu Governor Jackson Ngiraingas is reviving the issue on allegations of irregularities against President Remengesau, Minister of State Temmy Shmull, Minister of Finance Elbuchel Sadang and Special Prosecutor Everett Walton.
In a letter on Wednesday March 7, Ngiraingas told Sen. Joshua Koshiba that the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental and Foreign Relations has not take extra effort on this issue since the latter took over the committee chairmanship from Sen. Yukiwo Dengokl almost a year ago.
Ngiraingas noted in his letter that when Dengokl was the committee chairman, he initiated the process of conducting hearings on the allegations.
Ngirainas recalled that Dengokl wrote a letter to him requesting his appearance before the committee and that he appeared for a two-day closed door meeting where he was questioned about each and allegation.
He said that Dengokl went on to record that the committee was satisfied with the information given to them and that the committee will meet and prepare a report to be submitted to the full Senate for approval or disapproval as to whether or not the allegations are credible enough to be pursued.
"To date, I have not heard nor received any information from you and your committee regarding this matter. I believe after th conclusion of the Compact Review Commission’s sponsored National Economic Symposium and after hearing several prominent international speakers speak to us about good governance and the responsibility for us leaders for open, honest, transparent and accountable leadership, we should by now learned our lessons and that actions should and must be taken to clean up any alleged government corruption," Ngiraingas told Koshiba.
Ngiraingas said that it is quite embarrassing for an independent nation such as Palau to have its President and perhaps the entire leadership cramped up in one building for two days with our mouth open in awe while foreigners tell us indirectly how to be good leaders.
"It rung a familiar sound to the effort some of us has been trying to do for more than a year now with regards to the allegations against the President and some of his ministers, with whom the people of Palau entrusted them responsibility to lead the nation," Ngiraingas wrote.
Ngiraingas recalled in his letter to Koshiba that during the closed-door meetings, the committee questioned whether there were evidences and witnesses that can be produced.
He said that the committee was specifically told that there are evidences and witnesses but unless the OEK create a Special Investigation Committee with a subpoena power to conduct investigations, it would be fruitless to do anything further at least on Ngiraingas’s part.
"To give you an example, Senator Surangle Whipps, who was member of the committee and present at the meeting, did confirmed one of the allegations against Minister of State Temmy Shmull, in which he said the Minister purchased a large fiberglass sppedboat at Surangel’s store with $85,00.00 cash," Ngiraingas noted.
He said that one of the allegations against Shmull was the purchasing of the speedboat in the last part of 2005.
"The question was and still is where did Minister Shmull get the above money when we all know as minister his salry is $30,000 to $35,000 annually?" Ngiraingas asked.
He told Koshiba that nobody is accusing anyone of any crime, however, these allegations against officials holding the highest offices of this nation are serious in nature and should not and must not be swept aside and forgotten.
He said that if actions are not taken to pursue these allegations, "we are sending a very clear message to future elected and government officials that it is okay to be corrupt in your young government institutions."
Ngiraingas told Koshiba that as a democratically independent nation, it is the responsibility of Congress to check and balance the Executive Branch if there is reason to believe there may be violation of the very laws "we swore to protect and enforce."
"Do you not believe that after the CRC Symposium we shoiuld now pick up the bucket, mop, and broom and start cleaning the house?" Ngiraingas asked.