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The recently approved 2024 Senate redistricting plan, which adds one more Senate district and increases the number of senators from 13 to 15, is currently before the courts. The petition was filed with the Palau Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Former minister Jackson Ngiraingas filed the petition arguing that the 2024 redistricting plan does not comply with the constitutional provisions for the redrawing or redrawing of senatorial districts. He has asked the court to review and amend the plan.
Ngiraingas believes the redistricting commission failed to create new districts and failed to properly redraw Senate seats. Instead, it simply increased the number of senators in existing districts without truly redistricting.
Citing Article IX, Section 4(a) of the Constitution, Ngiraingas stressed that the Commission must change the previous constituency delineation. He argued that the Constitution provides for the creation of multiple constituencies in a new or different form and the 2024 plan lacks significant changes that do not meet this requirement.
Ngiraingas also pointed out that the Palauan version of the constitution has stronger wording, using the word “ma” (and), while the English version uses “or,” which he claimed further emphasizes the need for redistricting.
In his petition, Ngiraingas proposed two alternatives to divide the country into new constituencies. His first proposal was to create three constituencies: the first would have five senators representing the ten states of Babeltuapu and Kayangol; the second would have seven senators representing Koror and its villages (excluding Ngokbesan); and the third would have three senators representing Ngokbesan, Peleliu, Angar, Sonsoror and Hatobeyi.
His second proposal is to divide the country into six regions. Region One includes Kayangel, Ngarchelong, Ngaraard and Ngardmau, each with one senator. Region Two includes Ngiwal, Melekeok and Ngchesar, each with one senator. Region Three is Airai State, with three senators, and Region Four includes Aimeliik, Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, each with one senator. Koror State will make up Region Five, with eight senators, while Region Six includes Peleliu, Angaur, Sonsorol and Hatohobei, each with one senator.
The Redistricting Commission was established by law and consisted of seven members, namely Dr. Patrick Tray, Betty Moon Watson, Wayne Andrew, Paul Reclay, Jefferson Thomas, Reynold Mekor and Ogrand Cambes Kesole as the Chairman, and the Commission submitted its report on July 1, 2024, as required by law.
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