During a Public Hearing last Friday, Sugiyama said the Committees on Resources and Development and Judiciary and Governmental Affairs wanted to get the State Governors’ position on the new measures proposed by Koror State. “I raised a question whether they’re referring to citizens or residents of Koror,” she said.
“We know that it’s going to affect some of our residents,” Sugiyama stressed. “There are a lot of local people who are citizens of other States but are residing in Koror because they work here. And they’ve been residing in Koror for many years now because of work.”
Sugiyama said the Committee will look at the issue she raised.
Recently, Koror State Legislator Augusto Ngirmang introduced KSPL No. K4-68-95, requiring non-commercial fishing licenses for all Palauans who are not citizens of Koror; and Speaker Eyos Rudimch introduced another bill establishing a new Rock Islands Management and Conservation Act, broadening the categories of persons required to obtain a Rock Island Use Permit.
According to the proposals, many States in Palau charge a fee for fishing licenses, even for citizens of Palau, and under the present law of Koror, Palauan citizens are not required to obtain a fishing license to fish in the waters of Koror for non-commercial purposes.
A few weeks ago, legislators of Koror and Aimeliik States conducted a joint meeting over the strict implementation of Aimeliik Bul, which sanctions anyone who will be caught fishing in Aimeliik and Ngarchelong without proper permits.
“In light of lack of reciprocity by other States in allowing fishing by Palauans without a license, it is the best interest of the people of Koror to impose a fee for non-commercial fishing licenses for Palauan residents who are not residing in Koror,” said Ngirmang in his proposal.
In his proposal, Rudimch stated that “Citizen of Koror means any person who is lawfully registered with the National Election Commission as a voter of the State of Koror and who has been registered for at least three months.”
However, Sugiyama said there are many citizens of other States who are already considered residents of Koror. “A lot of people are residing in Koror but they are registered voters of other States,” she said.
“I don’t want to post statement that I am against their proposal or that I am for it. Because it’s their State, it’s their law,” she said. “For my State, we also have our own laws.”
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