By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

President Remengesau signed into law on Wednesday the measure which extends the term of Land Court and the Bureau of Lands and Surveys.
The measure extends the expiration date of the Land Court from Feb. 11, 2008 to Feb. 11, 2009 and while the BLS’s term was extended from Feb. 11, 2007 to August 11, 2008.
The Land Court will be phased out by 2009 while the BLS which is responsible for the designation of areas, survey and monumentation of land and the registration of land claims was given an additional year to be phased out.
In president’s letter to the Olbiil Era Kelulau leaders said however that he has concern over one section of the bill which eliminates the requirement that notice of land monumentation and survey be mailed to consulates and embassies overseas.
"Notice is essential to assure the complete final determination of land claims, and our people have a right to notice whether they live here or overseas. This reduction of notice requirement will inject an element of uncertainty and legal vulnerability into the process that must be considered fair, reliable and final for the sake of our people and our economy," Remengesau said.
The president urged OEK to consider the amendment in the future because the present practice of mailing a copy of all notices to the consulates overseas is burdensome.
He said for the meantime, he asked BLS to continue providing adequate notice to our consulates overseas.