Senate President Mlib Tmetuchl did not specify the reason forthe reshuffle but said that all 12 of the senators, including Oilouchand Whipps during the Thursday session voted to adopt the resolution.
Tmetuchl said the reshuffle has nothing to do with the controversial oil agreement signed by President Johnson Toribiong.
“A lot of issues were involved, “he said.
Whipps and Oilouch were stripped of committee vice chairmanships.Based on the resolution,Whipps and Oilouchalso lostmembership from the Senate Committee on Resources , Commerce , Trade and Development chaired by Sen. Adalbert Eledui.
Sen. Joel Toribiong, the president’s brother said the reshuffle was because the old line-up is not working.
“We could not work together as a body,” Toribiong said.
He however said that Whipps and Oilouch’s statements about the oil agreement have been highly publicized when the issue should have been tackled as a body not as a personal opinion.
The senator said the issue is not linked to his and Tmetuchl’s relationship with the president.
“I take things as it is,not as a family issue,” Toribiong stated.
Senate’s Vice President Kathy Kesolei declined to comment on the reshuffle stating that the matter has been a majority decision.
Sen. Eledui for his part said that his committee lost two valuable members.
“As a chairman, I feel very disappointed . I lost very resourceful individuals in my committee. They are active members who provide good information and has the ability to research,” Eledui said.
Eledui said each senator’s duty is to defend the Constitution and make sure that the integrity of the Senate is maintained.
In the resolution, Sen. Eledui was taken out of the JGA committee.
Oilouch was stripped all committee memberships, he however remains the Floor Leader.
Eledui lost the vice chairmanship of the Committee on Tourism and Development
Oilouchand Whipps are two of the most vocalagainst the controversial oil agreement , criticizing the president for exceeding his authority.
Whipps said it’s obvious that the reshuffle was retaliation against them for questioning the president.
Whipps and Eledui said that the resolution was approved immediately giving them no chance for a debate.
President Toribiong in an interview said he has no part in the reshuffle.
“I have nothing to do with it, it is the Senate process to make adjustment and alignment based upon what the majority wants,” the president said.
He said every individual is entitled to his own opinion adding that he respects both the senators’ position on the oil agreement.
“I never take anything personally and I expect the senators to do the same,” he added.
In a resolution introduced during the session late afternoon yesterday, Whippswas ousted fromhis seat as vice chair of the Senate committee of Ways and Means while andOilouchlosesvice chair seat of Judiciary and Governmental Affairs.
The resolution was introduced and signed by Senate PresidentTmetuchl, Sens.Kesolei,AlfonsoDiaz,Hokkons Baules,Paul Ueki, ReginaMesebeluu, RegisAkitaya, andToribiong .
The RCTD committee in its earlierpanelreport saidthatToribiong did not have any authority to enter into an oil and gas exploration agreement.
