By B.B
For Horizon

With the many changes and improvements that have been made in the operation of ICTV (Digital programming, etc), why haven’t they begun to develop regular, comprehensive newscasts, in Palauan and English, to be shown nightly on our screens. The recent transfer of many governmental operations (Executive, Legislative, and some judicial functions) to the new Capital at Ngerulmud Hill in Melekeok has made it doubly important that the people should be in touch with their government at all times. The best and most convenient way of doing that is through regular news programs broadcasted nightly via ICTV to all the viewers in Palau, from Kayangel in the North to Angaur in the South.
--- Not too long ago, before the Compact Road became accessible by land vehicles, the Government of Palau used to have many outboard motor boats of all kinds and sizes. Most ministries, if not all, and many major program activities had boats standing by to deliver supplies and other governmental materials to the outlying states and villages at a moment’s notice. These boats were either parked near the offices or were anchored at the Government dock at M-Dock. Where are these boats now? Were they sold or surveyed legally? Are there documents recording what happened to them?
--- We raised this question before, but since we have not received nor heard of any satisfactory answers to the concerns we raised, we will ask the question again. When the Government’s Vehicle Repair Shop (Shako), which was located at M-Dock, was dismantled to make way for the construction of the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), what happened to all the government equipments, vehicles, and other properties that were installed, stored, or kept there? Were they sold legally or surveyed correctly in accordance with standing government regulations governing the disposition of public properties? It is obvious that they were not simply left at the site, so where did they go? Again, are there official documents recording their dispositions?
Around this time 37 years ago
Thomas O. Remengesau was sworn-in on February 16, 1970 as Palau’s first and only native District Administrator. Haruo I. Remeliik, then a judge in the Palau District Court, administered the oath of office to Remengesau. Haruo Remeliik, himself, later became a Deputy District Administrator for Palau in the Remengesau administration.
As a young public information officer attached to the Palau District Government at the time, I reported the ceremony to news organizations on Saipan, Guam, and the rest of Micronesia. In looking over my notes for that occasion, I came across these comments I wrote 37 years ago about the ceremony.
"In sharp contrast with the usual pomp entailed in most public ceremonies, which are characteristic of Palau District, Remengesau’s swearing-in ceremony was simple and dignified".
"In attendance were all the elected members of the Palau District Legislature, the chiefs of Palau, including Paramount Chiefs Ibedul and Reklai, the members of the Palau Delegation to the Congress of Micronesia, District Government Officials and hundreds of local citizens"
"In a brief speech after taking the oath of office, Distad Remengesau pledged that his administration would do everything possible to bring unity to the people of Palau so that we may achieve our common objectives in a spirit of collective effort. He pledged to protect all government properties, which he emphatically proclaimed, were actually the properties of the people of Palau".