The Senate had confirmed Ngiraingas’ appointment to the Ministry of PIIC – along with the appointments of Masa-Aki Emesiochl to the Ministry of Education; Johnny Gibbons to the Ministry of Justice; Dr. Stevenson Kuartei to the Ministry of Health; Sandra S. Pierantozzi to the Ministry of State; Michael Copeland to serve as the Special Prosecutor; and Joshua Koshiba to serve as the Palau’s Compact Negotiator – during the first week of February.
Ngiraingas relinquished his duties as Governor of Peleliu State and soon after was sworn in as Minister of PIIC last week.According to the office of Palau Election Commission (PEC), it has not received any information from Peleliliu State Government that entails when it will hold an election for its next governor. Further, without a confirmed date of election, the PEC cannot accept or process petitions of individuals who plan to run as candidates for Peleliu State’s Office of the Governor.“Until Peleliu State Government schedule and confirm its election date,” said a PEC official, “Our office is not in position to process any paperwork pertaining to the election of the state’s governor. We will begin processing all required paperwork, set candidacy filing dates, and secure election ballots as soon as the state’s election date is designated and forwarded to our office.”According to information received from Peleliu State Office, members of the state’s legislative body will be meeting to decide on the date of the election; and as far as who is likely to run for the office of the governor, no one has publicly declared.
