In an interview, Paramount High Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons said he requested the legislators during the meeting between the HOTL’s and KSL last week,
Gibbons cited two reasons in opposing the passage of the measures. First, he said the KSL did not give them enough time to comment on the bills. Second, they do not agree with the legislators’ action.
“We do not agree of what they are doing to enact the law and for asking other States to say their comments,” the Paramount High chief said.
The two LB of the KSG are: LB No. 9-20 to require non-commercial fishing licenses for all Palauan who are not citizens of the State of Koror and LB No. 9-23 to require separate permits to all visitors and Palauan citizens in visiting Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake.
The HOTLs had earlier opposed the bills during the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Resources and Development and Committee on Judicial and Governmental Affairs.
In the HOTLs’ letter furnished to the media, traditional chiefs expressed their grievances over the two committees for not informing them earlier on the hearing schedule. Added by the language and spirit encompassed in the proposed bill 9-20 which according to the HOTLs it collides directly being a true Koronian.
The HOTL said that the true spirit of the people of Koror has always been that God given blessings of bountiful resources should openly be shared in brotherhood with the rest of Palau.
Meanwhile, the KSL for its part also said that the two measures are now pending. The bills according to the KSL clerk are still with the respective committees.
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