Toribiong-Mariur tandem holds final rally on Saipan

About three hundred Palauan voters on Saipan joined a rally by presidential and vice presidential candidate Johnson Toribiong and Kerai Mariur Thursday night at the Garapan Fishing Base in front of Kristo Rai Church.

Toribiong and Mariur will be up against the tandem of Elias Camsek Chin and Alan Seid in the runoff election after they topped the primary on Sept. 23.

The general elections at home is set on Nov. 4 but absentee voters in the CNMI, Guam and Hawaii will go to the polls today, Nov. 1.

Toribiong and Mariur took turns delivering speeches to convince Palauans who are living on Saipan to vote for them.

Ngiraked Toribiong, a practicing lawyer, entertained questions from the audience and spent some time explaining the 23 proposed amendments to the Palau Constitution. He was the Chairman of the Second Constitutional Convention in 2005.

Mariur was a member of the House of Delegates representing the State of Ngarchelong.

With the theme “Moving forward with the true Palauan spirit,” Toribiong and Mariur are campaigning on a platform to prioritize the younger Palauan generation in government programs, encourage sustainable investments, expand investments in undeveloped islands, public health programs, keep the traditions and customs intact, preserve the dignity of senior citizens, affordable housing, maintaining good relations with the international community and a transparent leadership.

The other presidential and vice presidential tandem, current Vice President Chin and Senate Floor Leader Seid, previously conducted a similar campaign rally on Saipan.

Seid is expected to show up in a camp put up by their supporters today at the Minatchom Atdao.

The polling place is located at Building E of Marianas High School, which would be open today from 7am to 9pm.

There are over a thousand Palauans in the CNMI but the consulate office cannot determine the exact figure of registered absentee voters. Palau Consul Eileen Quintol said they could only estimate the number from about 300 to 500.

Palauan citizens would also be electing members of the Senate, which had been increased from nine to 13.

There are a total of 43 candidates for the Senate, the most in the history of Palau elections. The list includes outgoing President Tommy Remengesau Jr., who earlier this year was declared with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as Time Magazine’s environment awardees of the year.

There are six incumbent senators, including Mlib Tmetuchl, Hokkons Baules, Santy Asanuma, Yukiwo Dengokl, Caleb Otto and Alfonso Diaz, while five are Remengesau’s Cabinet Ministers, including Elbuchel Sadang (Finance), Temmy L. Shmull (State), Otoichi Besebes (Commerce and Trade), Fritz Koshiba (Resources and Development), and Mario Katosang (Education).

Only one member of the House of Delegate is seeking a Senate seat, Joel Toribiong, who represents the commercial capital of Koror in the lower chamber and is the younger brother of the other presidential candidate.

The others are lawyer Raynold Arnold Oilouch, businessman Mark U. Rudimch, Headstart Director Regina K. Mesebeluu, Masayuki Adelbai, Haruo Ngiraked Wilter, Gale Ngirmidol, Masa-Aki Emesiochel, Joan Hinang Demei, Adalbert Eledui, Jeff Ngrarsaol, Paul Ueki, Tadashi Sakuma, Martin Renguul, Elia Tulop, Ngirataoch Nick Ngiwal, Dair Sumang, James Unique Orak, Roman Yano, Radao Ngotel, Joel Toribiong, Jonh B. Skebong, Dwight Alexander, Regis Akitaya, J. Risong Tarkong, Ernest Ongidobel, Lorenza Olkeriil, Kathy Kesolie, Jennifer Sugiyama-Yano, Dilmei Olkeriil, Steven Kanai and Gillain Johannes.