By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Governor Jackson Ngiraingas of Peleliu is pushing for empowerment of the States as he urged everyone to concentrate on economic development for the country and less on politics by inviting more foreign investors to Palau.
Ngiraingas, along with Angaur Governor Hjorace Rafael, Taiwan Ambassador Matthew S. Lee and students from Ngaraard Elementary School, were the special guests during the opening of the Ninth Regular Session of the Senate last Tuesday Jan 9.
On the same day, the Senate adopted two resolutions congratulating the new leaders of Angraur and Peleliu.
Rafael came with four members of the State Legislature.
Ngiraingas said that the members of Peleliu State Legislature could not attend the session because by law the Legislators also had their first session on the same day.
Ngiraingas said he brought up two main points to the Senators.
First, he wanted to remind everyone to focus more on how the country would improve the economy instead of giving time to politics.
Second, he is supporting efforts to invite more investors to Palau.
He urged Congress to pass a law that would require an impact fee on foreign investors.
A certain percentage of that impact fee is to be used for improvement of major infrastructure both in the national and state such as water and sewer facilities.
That fund will also upgrade such facilties so that they will not be impacted.
This fund he said would allow the state to become more flexible as they continue to develop their respective areas according to their priority plans.