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Third FSM Constitutional Convention, Day 18

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): November 29, 2001 - Two Committee Proposals have cleared the Committee of the Whole, (COW), today, with recommendation to go to Second Reading, but in the end none completely cleared the Second Reading process. C.P. No. 01-4, to lower the percentage of votes needed in each State to adopt amendments to the Constitution from the current three-fourths of the voters in three-fourths of the States, to two-thirds of the votes in three-fourths of the States, was recommended for passage by the COW but was deferred to an unspecified time during Second Reading. C.P. No. 01-3, to amend Article XIV of the FSM Constitution to extend the time-frame for submitting to FSM voters the question of whether to have a constitutional convention or not, from the current 10 years to 15 years was deferred to tomorrow's calendar. Two other Committee Proposals passed First Reading today; C.P. No. 01-5, to amend Section 6(b) of Article XI of the FSM Constitution by deleting the words "including the trial division of the Supreme Court" and insert an exception to the relevant Article that will prohibit or strip the national Courts of any jurisdiction whatsoever in cases where interests in land are at issue regardless of the diversity of citizenship, and C.P. No. 01-6, to amend Section 2 or Article V of the FSM Constitution to read: "(T)he traditions of the people of the FSM may be protected by statue. If challenged as violation of Article IV, protection of State tradition shall be considered a compelling social purpose warranting such governmental action."

Resolution No. 01-5, introduced yesterday by Chuuk Delegate Wesley Simina, received approval by the Convention, for the Convention to go into recess from December 2, through December 9, 2001, and for the Convention session to be extended through the maximum of 45 calendar days allowed under the law. Three other resolutions were introduced today; D.R. No. 01-6 and D.R. No.01-7 expressing gratitude and appreciation to Governor Vincent Figir and Speaker Robert Ruecho of Yap State, to Governor Rensley A. Sigrah and Speaker Hiteo Shrew of the Kosrae State, respectively, for making some of their staff available for use by the Third Constitutional Convention of the FSM, and D.R. No. 01-8, expressing gratitude and appreciation to President Susan J. Moses and the College of Micronesia-FSM Board of Regents for generously allowing Delegate John R. Haglelgam to be on administrative leave while participating in the Convention.

Convention went into recessed at 2:55 p.m. and will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9:00.