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Letters from our readers.
Palau Legal
Advantage Clarified
I'm writing to clarify what I intended to say about an advantage I have sitting on the bench (June issue, “Power & Pride: Palau’s Women Leaders”).
Having practiced with my colleagues on the bar here in Palau immediately prior to taking the bench, it's distinctively different from the other sitting judges because I have known and worked with a majority of the current members of the bar, both when I was with the AG's office and when I was in private practice.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
I have what I consider an advantage in listening to arguments in that I'm familiar with their style and tactics...as opposed to a judge hired from outside. I don't like the suggestion that I have an advantage over the sitting American judges, which is the impression members of the bar here have.
The most common question I've heard is "so what exactly do the lawyers get away with from the haole judges that you don't let them get away with?" which is an unfortunate and unintended impression.
Kathleen Salii
Associate Justice, Supreme Court
Koror, Palau
Unhappy With Switch to AMEX
I am writing to you in regard to the June issue, most specifically about Floyd K. Takeuchi's excellent Pacific Notes article, "Bankoh Retreats From The South Pacific." It was very interesting and helpful to have described what have been the Bank of Hawaii's motivations for divesting from Melanesia, Polynesia, Australia, and parts of Asia.
Since I live and work on the island of Saipan, one of the areas from which Bankoh is not withdrawing, it would seem that I should be grateful. However, I must point out that although the branches of the Bank of Hawaii are remaining in the CNMI, Palau, Marshalls, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia, there has been a significant and detrimental revision in services.
Effective at the beginning of April of this year, the Continental Airlines-linked VISA card, which once was one of the major advantages of dealing with Bankoh, was abruptly replaced by American Express.
I have nothing against AMEX; in fact, I hold their personal card in platinum and a Hilton Honors AMEX as well. The problem is that, in the American Pacific, merchants are just beginning to see the value of credit card transactions. The merchants that do accept credit cards restrict themselves to VISA and MasterCard because the charges from American Express are too high, impossibly counterproductive for their small operations.
So, for those of us who a) rely upon accrual of frequent flier miles to offset the cost of work-related travel to North America; b) had established automatic payment by our Bank of Hawaii VISA credit cards for such regular services as utilities, telecommunications, trash hauling, yard maintenance, etc; and c) utilized our Bankoh VISA cards for regular purchases at establishments that do not yet accept AMEX — we have been undeniably inconvenienced (scrambling to rearrange payments at very short notice), inarguably treated shabbily (no one forewarned us), and generally rendered poor service. I am sorry to say that I feel more angry than grateful.
Since I was first notified of this switch by Bankoh, some time in late March, I have discussed this with many friends. The total number of individuals who share my sentiments is now about 150.
Laura L. Post, M.D.
Saipan, N. Mariana Islands
Right On Travel Tips
I just finished reading the 'Top Five Rules for surviving Pacific Island Travel" (June issue). Right on, brah!
I once remember flying from Guam to Palau on Air Mike about 20 years ago. Mr. Paul Nitze (a very senior level officer in the Reagan administration) was on board. Anyway, when we arrived in Palau, Mr. Nitze's luggage was not on the plane. Was he pissed!
Moral: Tribulations of Pacific island travel doth not take any notice of the rank of travelers.
Bob Iversen
St. Kilda, Australia
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