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Jackson R. Ngiraingas is a Palauan politician and businessman who served as Governor of Peleliu from 1995 to 2001 and 2004 to 2009. He resigned during his fourth term to become Minister of Public Infrastructure from 2009 to 2013.

Career

Ngiraingas first served as governor for two terms from 1995 to 2001 succeeding Hinao Soalablai during which the Supreme Court of Palau found that he had unlawfully expended public funds and failed to comply with state laws which required him to inform the legislature about disbursements and transfer of funds. Incumbent governor Timarong Sisior decided not to run in the December 2003 election in which Ngiraingas was able to win his third term. He received 230 votes whilst runner-ups Postol Remeliik and Kangichi Uchau received 146 votes and 123 votes, respectively.

In March 2006, he asked the Senate of Palau to conduct an investigation into numerous allegations of conflicts of interest against President Thomas Remengesau Jr., Minister of State Temmy Shmull, Minister of Finance Elbuchel Sadang and First Lady Debbie Remengesau. In 2009, whilst serving his fourth term as Governor of Peleliu he resigned to join Johnson Toribiong's government as Minister of Public Infrastructure. He was sworn in on February 14, 2009 and was succeeded as governor by Kangichi Uchau in a special election. He unsuccessfully ran for vice president in the 2012 Palauan general election in which he came fourth in the primary with 969 votes and just over 10% of the vote.

He unsuccessfully ran for re-election as Governor of Peleliu against incumbent Temmy Shmull in the December 2015 election. In December 2018, he unsuccessfully ran for re-election again in which he received 265 votes behind Shmull's 309 votes. In April 2020, he sued Shmull for violating the Open Government Act by not responding to his letters requesting information in 2015. In July 2021, he filed a lawsuit against Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau Senior claiming that she had "failed to issue a proper warning" of Typhoon Surigae, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Palau in January 2023. In December 2021, Shmull stepped down having reached the term limit and Ngiraingas unsuccessfully ran for re-election for a third time. Unofficial results from an election poll showed him receiving 174 votes behind former Minister of Health Emais Roberts who received 312 votes.

Personal life

His wife Terry Eledui Ngiraingas served as a legal secretary for a law firm from 1984 to 1993 and Executive Secretary to the Chief Justice from 1998 to 2000. She also became the first former first lady to seek public office when she successfully ran as a candidate for Legislature-At-Large. Their son Terepkul Ngiraingas received a medical scholarship from the Cuban government.

References

1. ^ Reklai, Leilani (January 24, 2023). "Court dismisses Ngiraingas lawsuit against VP". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
2. Branigin, William (October 7, 1994). "From WWII Battleground to Peacetime Pot Producer". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024. Hinao Soalablai, the governor of Peleliu, disputes that view.
3. "Political Reviews: Micronesia". scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu. 1999. p. 202. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024. The controversial governor of Peleliu State, Jackson Ngiraingas...
4. "Elections Begin in Palau's Peleliu State". Pacific Islands Report. December 9, 2003. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2024. Incumbent Gov. Timarong Sisior decided not to seek reelection.
5. ^ Abrau, Agnes M. (December 10, 2003). "Ngiraingas Wins Peleliu Governor's Race". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2024. The new officials will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2004.
6. "Ngiraingas asks Senate to conduct investigation on Remengesau and cabinet members". Island Times. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
7. "Ngiraingas v. Nakamura, 18 ROP 225 (2011)" (PDF). www.palausupremecourt.net. September 13, 2011. p. 227. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024. ...was a businessman in Koror and Peleliu, an elected legislator in the Peleliu State Legislature, and a four-term Governor of Peleliu.
8. ^ Villahermosa, Cherrie Anne E. (December 2, 2009). "Peleliu Voters to Elect New Governor". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
9. "Palau Primary Election Polling Begins: 3 candidates stand for president, 4 for vice-president". Islands Times. Pacific Islands Report. 2012-09-26. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
10. "General Election Results". Oceania Television Network. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
11. Senase, Jose Rodriguez T. (October 8, 2015). "Peleliu election: 2 file for governor, 19 for state legislature". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
12. "Shmull re-enters Peleliu gubernatorial race". Island Times. September 25, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
13. Reklai, Leilani (April 10, 2020). "Second ruling on Open Government Act issued". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
14. ^ "Dr. Roberts tops race for governor of Peleliu State". Island Times. December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
15. Villahermosa, Cherrie Anne E. (December 9, 2009). "Former Palau First Lady Wins Legislative Seat". Pacific Islands Report. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
16. "Two Palauans complete medicine studies in Cuba". Island Times. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.

• 20th-century Palauan politicians
• 21st-century Palauan politicians
• Governors of Peleliu
• Living people
• Ministers of public infrastructure of Palau
• Palauan businesspeople