Ngardmau Legislature Impeaches Governor Over Dock Contract, Alleged Illegal Acts

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang

NGARDMAU, Palau (July 23, 2026) — The Ngardmau State Legislature unanimously voted Tuesday to impeach Gov. Jennifer Ngiraiwet, accusing her of bribery, personal enrichment, conflict of interest and other alleged illegal acts tied to a long-term joint venture agreement involving the Ngardmau Dock.

The impeachment resolution, KN Resolution No. 11-21-16, was approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote of the Kelulul Ngardmau. Seven of the legislature’s nine members were present, exceeding the two-thirds majority required under the Ngardmau Constitution to remove a governor from office.

The resolution alleges Ngiraiwet “obligated Ngardmau State to a long-term joint venture agreement of up to 100 years with a company without a concrete implementation plan, feasibility study, or demonstrated benefit to Ngardmau State.”

The agreement names S4 Construction Co., owned by Bechal Salvador, as the private partner in a project involving the lease and development of the Ngardmau Dock.

According to the resolution, Ngiraiwet repeatedly described the agreement as primarily involving limited sand mining, while legislators contend the contract instead granted S4 exclusive, long-term development, operational control and commercial port rights over the dock.

Legislators further alleged that S4 provided free renovation and construction services to residents through projects coordinated by state employees. The resolution describes those services as “things of value intended to influence public opinion, suppress opposition, and secure continued political support,” alleging they constituted bribery.

The resolution also accuses Ngiraiwet of a conflict of interest, alleging she is related to S4 owner Bechal Salvador and failed to recuse herself from the approval process. It states that “the same contract would not have been issued to a person who was not a relative of the Governor.”

Under the agreement, signed Aug. 17 last year, S4 received the right to revive and improve the port, develop sand mining operations and pursue other commercial interests to create new revenue for the state. The contract provides for a 70-30 profit-sharing arrangement, with 70% going to S4 and 30% to Ngardmau State.

The lease covers approximately 94,115 square meters of the Ngardmau Dock property. It establishes an initial 50-year lease with an automatic 50-year renewal, allowing the agreement to remain in effect for up to 100 years.

Kelulul Ngardmau Speaker Terence Miozawa said all seven legislators present voted in favor of impeachment. Clerk Heather Fisher said Vice Speaker Rull C. Debedebk and Legislator Norman Aderkeroi were absent after notifying the legislature for personal reasons unrelated to the resolution.

Those voting for impeachment were Miozawa, Victor R. Masahiro, Diana Smau, Neil I. Fisher, Akiko B. Udui, Albert Ngirmekur and Willard Kumangai.

Kumangai previously served as Speaker and was among the signatories to the joint venture agreement, along with Ngiraiwet, Ngardmau High Chief Beouch Demei Obakerairur and S4 President Bechal Salvador.

The legislature also authorized its officers to appoint special counsel to conduct a further investigation into the matter.

Article VI, Section 3 of the Ngardmau Constitution authorizes the removal of a governor by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Kelulul for treason, bribery or personal enrichment. The seven affirmative votes surpassed that constitutional threshold.

According to a source close to the governor, Ngiraiwet was in Taiwan when the resolution was adopted and just returned to Palau last night.

Article VI, Section 4 of the Ngardmau Constitution requires that a special election be held within 60 days of the impeachment to fill the vacant governor’s office.

The allegations contained in the impeachment resolution have not been adjudicated in court. No response from Ngiraiwet or S4 Construction Co. was immediately available.

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