KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The Senate has come up with an entirely new measure allowing the United States government to lease property in Palau.
Senate Floor Leader Steven Kanai said the new bill had been transmitted to the Office of the President for review. The Office of the President, for its part, sent it to the U.S. government for comments.
However, the language of new bill has not been released to the public pending the review.
The old bill, which calls for a 99-year lease, has to be scrapped because its passage could violate the constitutional provision on land leases, Kanai said.
The court earlier ruled that a 99-year lease equates to ownership of the land. Only citizens of Palau may acquire title to land or waters in Palau.
Kanai said the resulting appeal was dismissed. The ruling was made on the case of Odilang Clan vs. Obakrakelau.
Palau has applied for a lease to purchase property in Washington, D.C. for the Palau embassy.
The U.S. wanted reciprocal rights and has requested access to real property for the U.S. diplomatic mission in Palau.
