2nd Women’s Mock Congress Begins In Palau
04th September, 2013
[Photo of the 11 participants, by Ms Adora Nobuo, Public Information Officer for the 9th OEK Palau National Congress
The first day involved participants’ registration. The participants were also given an overview of the Mock Congress for Women.
Participating in the Mock Congress are Tiare Holm, Olympia Morei, Elvira Franz, Delilah Lecholch, Blanche Salii, Ush Luii, Lillian Marcil, Ann Pedro, Helena Yoichi, Geggie Udui and Ann Singeo.
Holm will act as Senate President, Morei as Vice President, Franz as Floor Leader, Lecholch as chairperson for Education and Social Welfare Committee, Salii on Health, Luii on Resource, Commerce, Trade and Development, Marcil on Ways and Means and Financial Matters, Pedro on JGA, Yoichi on Culture, Uduion Foreign Affairs and State Relations and Singeo on Energy, Public Utilities and Infrastructure.
Today, the participants will be trained about how to prepare for session, lawmaking process, draft legislation, draft committee reports, learn the Rules of Procedures and Languages of Congress (specific vocabulary of Congress proceedings), and tour Senate and House Chambers.
On Wednesday, there will be panel discussions on key issues. Five bills will be in the agenda for the mock session including the following: House Bill. No. 9-57-3 To authorize the creation of the Court of Traditional and Cultural Matters; Senate Bill No. 9-22 To permit the transfer of non-resident workers; SB No. 9-76 To assist the bedridden residents of the Republic of Palau by subsidizing their electricity costs; SB No. 9-37 To ban export of any living resource that primarily inhabits the reefs of Palau; and SB No. 9-20 Maternity Leave.
The panel discussion will be similar to the conduct of public hearing. Panelists for each of the five bills are as follows: Traditional Courts – Ngirakebou Roman Bedor, Bilung Gloria Salii and Sen. Kathy Kesolei; Maternity Leave – Public Health Dir. Berry Moon Watson and Dr. Sylvia Osarch; Transfer of foreign workers – Bureau of Labor and Human Resources Dir. Ringsang Rechirei; Elderly Subsidy – PPUC PIO Tmetuchl Baules and Dr. Sylvia Osarch; and Banning export of reef fish – Bureau of Marine Resources Acting Dir. Percy Recheluul.
Mock session will be on Thursday. Just like the real opening of session, there will be a special program. During the program, mock senators will be sworn-in by Associate Justice Kathleen M. Salii. Session will start from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, participants will be sharing experiences as participants of the Mock Congress.
The first Mock Congress for Women was held in the 8th OEK. In March, a mock congress was also held for student that was sponsored by the 9th OEK.
The 2nd Mock Congress for Women is organized by the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Island Times: www.islandtimes.us
– By Aurea Gerundio-Dizon, for Island Times, via Pacific Islands Report – Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center