By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — The Senate Committee on Judiciary & Governmental Affairs (JGA) held a public hearing Wednesday on a bill introduced by President Surangel Whipps Jr. to establish a new Ministry of Interior.
Senate Bill 12-2, if enacted, would consolidate several domestic agencies under one ministry, including the Bureau of Land and Surveys, Office of the Public Defender, Bureau of Weather Service, Division of Youth, Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation, Belau National Museum, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, and the National Archives.
Minister of State Gustav Aitaro said the bill aims to “provide more centralized and cohesive services to the community.” Under the proposal, the Office of the Public Defender, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, and National Archives—currently under the Ministry of State—would move to the new ministry. The Division of Youth, Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation, and Belau National Museum, which are under the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism & Development (HRCTD), would also be transferred.
HRCTD Minister Ngirai Tmetuchl assured that the restructuring would not change employees’ roles but would shift management oversight. However, he acknowledged a key challenge: “The biggest challenge is how a new minister will unite all the employees because we’re dealing with people.”
Public feedback was mixed. Alfonso Diaz said, “It is not the right time. The idea is good, but it is not urgent.” Moses Uludong supported the name change but warned that implementing the transition without proper study would be reckless. “Around the world, efforts are being made to decrease the size of governments,” he said, recommending a desk audit to evaluate inter-agency coordination before proceeding.
Uludong also noted that when the law establishing Palau’s eight ministries was first enacted, the country had a population of more than 20,000. With fewer Palauans today, he questioned the expansion of government ministries.
Minister Tmetuchl agreed, suggesting that lawmakers collaborate with the executive branch to ensure they fully understand the functions of the affected agencies.
Senators also raised concerns. Sen. Stevenson Kuartei said he had confirmed the appointments of Aitaro and Tmetuchl because he trusted them to oversee their ministries’ bureaus. Sen. Brian Melairei proposed renaming the Ministry of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if Domestic Affairs is removed from its jurisdiction.
The bill recently passed the House of Delegates and is now under Senate review. The committee announced another public hearing on March 18 at 3 p.m. at the Old OEK Building to discuss a separate bill on the courts’ recognition of the Klobak’s authority in selecting traditional chiefs.