KOROR, Palau — A report by the Palau Supreme Court revealed that more than 25% of the country’s land mass remains unregistered as of February 2024.
The report states that over 4,000 land claims are pending, while only 721 claims were resolved in 2023. “Disposed of” in this context signifies that these claims involved titles being issued, claims being heard, or claims being deemed untimely.
Peleliu has the highest number of pending claims at 860, followed by Hatohobei (799), Sonsorol (521), Aimeliik (511), and Airai (400). Ngarchelong (253), Koror (247), Ngiwal (191), Ngeremlengui (121), Ngatpang (66), Ngaraard (21), and Ngchesar (10) also have significant backlogs.
The total unregistered area, meaning ownership determinations are yet to be made, is a vast 94,035,750 square meters (36,307 square miles). The court report emphasizes the significant workload this represents.
With a limited staff of one full-time land court judge and three Land Registration Officers (LROs), the court is unable to provide a timeframe for completing land registration. The report strongly urges states with the most pending claims to assist with “clearing, monumenting, and surveying” land within their jurisdictions.
The report identifies the inability of most claimants to locate and establish their land boundaries as the primary obstacle to resolving ownership issues. Land Authorities in each state can expedite the process by helping claimants determine the location and boundaries of their claims.
The court additionally recommends amending law RPPL 11-25 to empower LROs to issue notices and file claims. The report highlights a gap created when the law was amended and LROs were transferred back to the Land Court from the Bureau of Land and Survey. Core LRO duties somehow weren’t included in the transfer, causing delays and confusion. The court recommends restoring these core duties to facilitate timely notices and claims.
Finally, the Land Registration Office has requested a budget of $141,769 to cover operational costs for fiscal year 2025.