By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Delegates Kerai Mariur and Joel Toribiong have introduced a bill that would specifically prohibit the Vice President from holding the position of Minister of Justice or Finance.
HB No. 7-157-9, which was passed on first reading on Wednesday, is to amend the law and to define Presidential Cabinet positions available to the Vice President.
The bill said the position of the Vice President is a highly political position.
It said that with the implementation of the Third Amendment to Palau’s Constitution requiring the President and Vice President to run jointly in 2008, the appointment of the VP to certain ministries has the potential to create conflicts of interest between the dual positions.
The bill said that ‘of the differing minister positions, the minister of Finance and Minister of Justice face the most potential for conflict and political infighting."
These two positions, Mariur’s bill explained, are critically in need of full time ministers with specified education and experience who can fully devote themselves to their respective ministry.
The bill said that "ministers shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the will of the President.
It said that the nomination for the appointment of a minister shall be deemed withdrawn from the Senate by the President if the Senate does not give its consent within 60 calendar days from the day the Senate receives the nomination from the President.
It also said that the Vice President shall be appointed as a minister and shall serve as a member of the President’s cabinet, however, the VP shall not be eligible for appointment to the position of Minister of Finance or Minister of Justice.