By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Commitees were trimmed down from 14 to nine as the newly organized 10-member majority bloc in the House of Delegates introduced another Resolution after last week’s successful move to oust former Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu, former Vice Speaker Okada Techitong and former Floor Leader William Ngiraikelau.
During that ouster move, House Resolution No. 7-14-27S was adopted to provide 14 delegates with respective chairmanship but five of them declined, including Kerai Mariur, Joel Toribiong, William Ngiraikelau, Florencio Yamada and Techitong.
That Resolution also installed Antonio Bells as the new Speaker on April 9. Mesebeluu was offered the Vice Speaker but declined.
Then on April 11, Idechong was installed as the new Vice Speaker. Also installed in the reorganization was Sabino Anastacio as Floor Leader.
Bells, Idechong and Noah Secharraimul bolted out of the former majority bloc, which now became the current minority bloc composed of only six.
House Resolution No. 7-16-10, which was adopted during the 10th Regular Session last Friday, stated that the HOD members "believe that they must work together in a cohesive and cooperative manner to effectively legislate foe the good of the people of Palau."
It further stated that "it is necessary to consolidate and adjust the number of the committees to nine.
These committees and their chairmen are Ways and Means (Mario Gulibert), Resources and Development (Noah Idechong), Judiciary and Governmental Affairs (Sabino Anastacio), Capital Improvement Projects (Lucio Ngiraiwet), Health and Education (Kalistus Ngirturong), Maritime and Fisheries (Thomas Patris), Commerce, Banking, Insurance and Investment (Jonathan Isechal), Tourism Youth and Social Affairs (Noah Secharraimul) and Foreign Affairs (Flavian Carlos).
Toribiong and Mesebeluu did not attend last Friday’s session.
The next session is subject to call.