The petition, copies of which were sent to Chief Justice Ngiraklsong, President Remengesau, members of the Olbiil Er a Kelulau (OEK), the Palau Election Commission, Ngatpang State Legislature, and the media outlets, listed grievances about current legislative practices of Ngatpang State Legislature that were supposedly made and signed for by the citizens of Ngatpang State.
On February 26, 2008, Horizon published the following article about the petition.
Ngatpang is in a political turmoil. More than fifty voting citizens of Ngatpang State have signed a petition that pleads for Chief Justice Ngiraklsong, President Tommy Remengesau, OEK, the Palau Election Commission, and the Ngatpang State Legislature to address and resolve certain issues related to articles specified in the Constitution of Ngatpang State that have been compromised and/or contradicted. According to the petitioners, the named officials have the capability and authority to find appropriate resolution for the concerns raised.
According to the petition, Section 10 of Article VI of the state’s constitution stipulates that in cases where the office of the governor becomes vacant – by impeachment or any other means – the Speaker of the State Legislature assumes the role of the governor until such time a new governor is elected. An election for a new governor must be held if 180 days or more is left of the term of the out going governor.
According to the petition, the office of the governor could not have been vacant because it had not and is yet to be filled – no one has been elected by popular vote to fill it; thus, the Speaker, in accordance to the state constitution can’t assume the role of a nonexistent governor. Therefore, according to the petition, all proposals, resolutions, bills, and laws signed by the Speaker as acting governor of the state has no credence. Moreover, it is further stated in the state constitution that the Speaker can only serve as governor for a maximum of sixty days. Within those 60 days, an election for a new governor must be held. According to the petition, a governor has not been elected, which in accordance with the state constitution, the governor’s position should be vacant.
The petition further reveals that Section 3 and 4 – the governor takes office based on majority vote of registered voters and that governorship candidates must have resided in Ngatpang for a minimum of a year prior to election – Article VI of the constitution have not been followed. It is stated in the petition that the individual currently in the governor’s office was not elected into office and had not resided in Ngatpang for a year prior to election.
In addition, according to the petition, Section 1 of Article IV of the state’s constitution defines the number of members of the Ngatpang State Legislature to be nine (9) – including the Speaker. According to the petition, a seat in the state’s legislature has been vacant for more than three months – since the day Speaker Takemura Erungel became acting governor. In accordance with the constitution, as stated in petition, an election must be held to fill the legislative vacancy; and in addition, Section 13 of the constitution mandates that an election must be held to fill the vacancy if more than 180 days of legislative office term is left.
In the petition, it is also stated that Section 14 of Article IV of the state’s constitution clearly states that members of the legislature cannot raise their salaries during their terms in office. According to the petitioners, the members of the current state legislature have raised their salaries through Ngatpang State Public Law (NSPL) No. 1-07. The raises are as follows: Speaker – $470 ($235 bi-weekly); Vic-speaker – $460 ($230 bi-weekly); Floor Leader – $450 ($225 bi-weekly); and members – $440 ($220 bi-weekly). It is further stated that each member of the legislature receives a $30.00 stipend per day during legislative sessions. It is also stated in the petition that some of the members of the Ngatpang State Legislature are also employed in the national government.
The petitioners also claim that Section 2 of Article IX of the state’s constitution specifies that the compensation of all employees shall remain unchanged during transition until such time that a new budget act and appropriations are established. According to the petitioners, no new budget act has been passed; and yet, the members of the Legislature have increased their salaries. In addition, the same Legislature, according to the petition has reduced the allowances for the Ngaimis through NSPL No. 1-07. According to the petition, Rebelkuul, the highest ranking chief, to Bedul, the 8th ranked chief, are now being paid a sum of $150.00 each per month; and Madrasikos and Madrainglai, the 9th and 10th ranked chiefs, are each paid $125.00 per month.
According to the petition, the reduction of the amount of money paid to the Ngaimis contradicts that which is stated in the state’s constitution – all compensation paid to state employees and leaders shall remain as is until such time that a new budget act is passed.
Horizon received information yesterday that indicates that the signatory pages of the petition was “doctored” and that none, if any, of the citizens listed signed it.
Further, Horizon has obtained a copy of a March 2007 nominating petition for Martin Blodak as a candidate for the office of the governor of Ngatpang. The nominating petition, submitted on March 8 2007, bears an exact lists of names and signatures – identical in order – to that of the petition alleging legislative corruption and negligence of Ngatpang’s Constitution.
A close scrutiny of the signatory pages of both petitions show that someone had photocopied the signatory pages of the Blodak’s nominating petition, changed the dates, and attached it to the petition alleging legislative corruption and negligence of Ngatpang’s Constitution prior to distributing it.
