Marianas Variety
Monday, 23 June 2008
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff
HAWAI'I Sen. J. Kalani English is the new president of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures and will officially assume the post on Oct. 1 for a one-year term.
English, who twice served the regional organization as vice president, was elected president at APIL's 27th general assembly in Guam on May 7.
"It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues to serve as president of APIL," English said. "We are looking at a number of areas of mutual interest where regional cooperation, coordination, exchange and assistance can help our individual governments achieve important goals through collective action."
English said he was pleased with Hawai'i's new role in regional efforts to help improve the lives in Pacific islands.
Walden Weilbacher of the APIL Secretariat said English "brings to the office an expertise and unique perspective that will be extremely valuable to APIL as we continue our efforts to serve our member states."
The other newly elected APIL officers for 2008-2009 term were Palau delegate William Ngiraikelau, vice-president; Guam speaker Judith T. Won Pat, secretary; and Marshall Islands vice speaker Alik J. Alik, treasurer.
Among the Pacific Island states participating in the APIL are American Samoa; CNMI; Federated States of Micronesia State of Chuuk; FSM State of Kosrae; FSM State of Pohnpei; FSM State of Yap; Island of Guam; Republic of the Marshall Islands; Republic of Palau; State of Hawai'i; Republic of Kiribati; and Republic of Nauru.
© 2007 Marianas Variety
Original article URL: http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2579:hawaii-legislator-is-new-apil-president-