By Rhealyn C. Pojas
The Melekeok State Public Lands Authority (MSPLA) and the National Safety Office (NSO) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on February 8 to allow the latter to use the 17,000-square-meter piece of land in NgKud, Melekeok for the demolition of World War 2 unexploded ordinances (UXO) that were identified and mapped. [restrict]
MSLPA Chairman Reklai Rafael Bao Ngirmang and Joe Reklai of NSO signed the MOU at the Office of the Rubekul Belau which allows the use of the land owned by the Reklai clan for exploding UXOs.
Joe Reklai said in an interview that they had already exploded a UXO on February 13, Tuesday.
Finding a demolition range for the UXOs in Palau, except those in Peleliu and Ngiwal, had long been a long standing discussion with the state governments.
In a press statement furnished to Island Times, it was stated that the UXO Advisory Committee and the NSO anticipate the development and outfitting of the demolition range to meet Palau’s environmental laws and regulations, especially the Public’s safety. {/restrict]