By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau — Senator Ann Pedro announced during a Senate session last Thursday that she intends to recall recent presidential appointments to the Belau National Museum Board of Trustees, citing violations of the legal process required for such nominations.
In a letter sent six days prior to the session, Pedro, who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and Social Welfare, informed Senate President Hokkons Baules that after reviewing supporting documents, the committee determined that the appointments were not made in accordance with Title 19, Section 202 of the Palau National Code.
“The law clearly states that board members must be recommended by the existing board before their names are submitted to the president, who then forwards them to the Senate for confirmation,” Pedro said during the session. “The President cannot unilaterally appoint individuals who have not been recommended by the board.”
Pedro said the committee’s review, supported by a formal letter from the Museum Director, confirmed that this legal process was not followed.
In response to Pedro’s concerns, the Senate legal counsel issued a letter stating that the Belau National Museum is a chartered nonprofit corporation and its board and operations are classified as private entities. “Appointed board members are not national officers,” the counsel clarified.
Pedro said the Museum Director informed her that the board had submitted a list of recommended nominees to the Office of the President last year.
A total of eight appointments have been submitted in recent months. Senate resolutions include:
- SR 12-30: Meked Besebes
SR 12-32: Chloe Yano
SR 12-34: Eileen Rebluud
SR 12-37: Richard Ngiraked
SR 12-31: Roberta Louch (a reappointment)
Additional nominations addressed during last week’s Senate session included: - Pres. Comm. 12-55: McMichael Mutok Jr.
Pres. Comm. 12-56: Rebechall Takeo Ngirmekur
Pres. Comm. 12-57: Ray Marino
Pedro emphasized that her motion to recall is not based on the qualifications or character of the appointees but solely on the procedural flaws in the appointment process.