Gov. Sebastian Anefal and his key staff reported to the whole leadership the actions taken by the Yap delegation on specific positions of the state in regards to certain provisions of the URA bill.
According to Attorney General Victor Nabeyan, who was a member of Yap delegation to the meeting in Kosrae, the working group chaired by Vice President Alik Alki has yet to reach consensus on all the Yap state positions.
However, other important provisions expressing Yap’s desire to protect its constitutional laws, including insertion of language that speaks to prevailing authority of state laws over URA laws and directives, have been met.
Perhaps other state concerns, as raised in Kosrae, will be discussed during the upcoming meeting of the group in Chuuk next week, Nabeyan said.
Such pending issues include banking procedures on tax revenue, and issuance of directives to the URA.
According to the AG, these items were raised but the national government needed to have further research and consultation with its technical advisors before making any decision.
There were a lot of concerns raised during the discussion on the FSM Social Security Administration’s newly amended law which changed the retirement age from 60 to 65.
This bill became Public Law 15-73 without the approval of FSM President Emanuel Mori.
In addition to the concerns raised in the leadership meeting, a resolution was introduced in the Yap Legislature calling on the FSM Congress to repeal P.L. 15-73 and look for solutions to the FSM Social Security System that will not burden the social security recipients and business establishments in the FSM while reinstating the retirement age at 60.
Other topics discussed during the meeting included a report from the committee formed by the leadership to look into the possibility of having a state medical insurance plan; the status of the two state owned field trip vessels and a recently concluded youth debate.
An added item on the agenda, the fiber optic cable, will be discussed in the next leadership meeting.
