Third FSM Constitutional Convention, November 23, 2001

---

Third FSM Constitutional Convention, Day 12

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): November 23, 2001 –
One day after its introduction, Committee Proposal No.
01-1, to confer on the National Government and the States concurrent power
to levy value-added taxes, was withdrawn from Convention after delegates
decided the process used in introducing the proposal was not proper.
There were ten proposals and three resolutions introduced this morning.
Introduced by the Pohnpei Delegation were: Delegate Proposal No. 01-46, to
amend Section 1 of Article XIII, to read; “Section 1. The National
Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the state governments
recognizes the right of the people to education, health care, and legal
services and shall take every step reasonable and necessary to provide these
services; D.P. No. 01-47, to create the Office of the Special Prosecutor;
D.P. No. 01-49, to provide for the procedure for a State to secede from the
union, and D.P. No. 01-50, to amend Section 3 (c) of Article IX, by
inserting the following, “To establish systems of social security and to
insure that the beneficiaries legal rights are not deterred and public
welfare.” Introduced by the Kosrae State Delegation were; D.P. No. 01-51,
relating to the imposition of taxes, duties, and tariffs based on imports
with the exception of imports for educational and medical purposes ;D.P. No.
01-52, relating to protection of traditions; and D.P. No. 01-53, to change
from the unicameral Congress to a parliamentary system of government. From
the Chuuk State Delegation, the following proposals were introduced: D.P.
No. 01-48, relating to foreign fishing, research, or exploration vessel,
taking of national resources from any area within the marine space of the
FSM; D.P. No. 01-54, relating to the protection and enforcement of standards
for environmental quality, and for the establishment of an Independent
Environmental Management Authority; and D.P. No. 01-55, relating to no
planting, manufacturing, trafficking, sale, possession, storage, import or
consumption of illegal drugs which are dangerous to health and the life of
people. Finally, Delegate Wesley Simina of Chuuk, also the Chairman of the
Committee on Style and Arrangement, introduced three Resolutions; D.R. No.
01-2, expressing gratitude and appreciation to President Leo A. Falcam and
Vice President Redley Killion for making some of their staff, offices and
equipment available for use by the Convention; D.R. No. 01-3, expressing
gratitude and appreciation to Speaker Jack Fritz and Members of the Twelfth
Congress for making some of their staff, offices; equipment available for
use by the No. 01-52 and D.R. No. 01-4 expressing gratitude and appreciation to Chief Justice
Andon L. Amaraich for making his staff available for use by the Convention.
The Convention adjourned for Committee meetings at 12:03 p.m. and will
reconvene on Monday, 11/26, at ten o’clock in the morning.