The bill introduced by HOD Floor Leader Gibson Kanai, Delegate Celestine Yangilmau and Delegate Marhence Madrangchar was passed on first reading early this week.
The bill stated that “societal upheaval stemming from unresolved disputes involving traditional matters in the Supreme Court, continue to rise and are causing much confusion and frustration among most, if not all, clans, lineages and families throughout Palau. This condition, if not corrected, will stand to undermine the integrity and wellbeing of Palau as a society.”Delegate Madrangchar, a holder of a traditional title in his state and a strong supporter of traditional values, says that ‘recent trends in the Supreme Court involving the handling of traditional and cultural matters indicate the necessity of having a court that directly incorporates traditional and cultural methods in adjudicating such disputes.’The bill said that most of the time the Court after a financially exhausting and time consuming trial refer back most of these disputes involving traditional and cultural matters to all parties of the cases to settle by themselves.“This leads to lawyers only as winners, not to mention richer and leaving the dispute unsettled and the parties involved with fewer money and lots of frustration,” the bill said.The propose bill will utilize the wisdom of the traditional chiefs of Palau to settle disputes before they are referred to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for final adjudication. The bill requires all resolution of disputes to begin at the Hamlet Chiefs, after which the State Council of Chiefs will try to resolve a dispute and if issues still remain, the matter will be heard by the National Council of Chiefs.
