Overview:
“This is a move toward unity of the House of Delegates,” Speaker Gibson Kanai said as lawmakers approved four new committees during the 5th special session in Ngerulmud.
In a sweeping reorganization adopted under Resolution 12-9-5S, the Palau House of Delegates expanded its committee structure for the second time in three months, assigning leadership roles to members who previously held few or no committee posts. While the changes were unanimously supported, questions emerged over funding gaps and potential overlap with existing panels.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
Ngerulmud, Palau — In a bid of be inclusive, the House of Delegates (HOD) has reorganized its committees twice in three months, creating new committees and assigning chairmanships to delegates previously sidelined.
Last week, on the opening day of its 5th special session, the House adopted Resolution 12-9-5S, establishing four additional committees:
- Banking, Insurance, and Financial Matters, chaired by Rebecca Sebalt Ngirmechaet of Ngchesar.
- Cyber Security and Security, chaired by Timothy Sinsak of Ngarchelong.
- Housing Development, chaired by Portia Franz Kesolei of Ngaremlengui.
- Community Planning and Development, chaired by Noah Kemesong of Kayangel.
When the current 12th House convened in January 2025, these delegates held scant roles: Ngaremlengui’s delegate sat on just three committees, Ngchesar and Ngarchelong delegates on two each, Kayangel’s delegate on only one, while Ngiwal’s on none. By contrast, other delegates served on as many as eight and nine committees, with one delegate on all of them.
The expansion arrived without dedicated funding. Some congressmen noted publicly that “the new committees were formed but have no committee funds.”
Vice Speaker Gulibert acknowledged during the session, “to be frank, the initial structure was based on when we first organized.”
Speaker Kanai added that “funding is being adjusted to accommodate the new committees. Due to earlier budget cuts, we are adjusting the budget to accommodate all, but coming supplemental budget deliberations – we will request additional funding.”
The changes build on a new Commerce and Trade Committee formed three months earlier, during the first day of the 4th special session, with chairmanship granted to Ngiwal’s Ngirameketii. All delegates now hold committee memberships and leadership positions.
While the move garnered unanimous support, Hatohobei delegate Marino raised concerns about overlap: “The committee on banking, insurance, and financial matters is similar to the committee of ways and means. Furthermore, the new committee of housing development is also closely related to the new committee of community and development, all of which could be tied to the existing committee of community improvement projects (CIP). He stated, “Let’s make sure their roles are clear so their work will not overlap.”
Speaker Kanai framed the restructuring as “this is a move toward unity of the house of delegates.”