Yap State News Brief: March 8, 2012

Governor Responds to the YSL over Resolution 8-29
In a letter to Speaker of the 8th Yap Legislature, Governor Sebastian Anefal explained the government’s position regarding the Chinese Exhibition and Travel Group’s (ETG) proposal for the development of Yap State’s tourism.

Resolution 8-29, which was adopted on January 26, 2012, was Legislature’s response to a January 19th meeting between the Government of the State of Yap and ETG in which the State Leadership “learned of an investment proposal offered by ETG...in the form of an investment agreement to be signed by the Governor of the State of Yap.”

The resolution further expressed the Legislature’s concern over the “magnitude” of the investment proposal which would potentially involve “millions of dollars and conceivably requiring vast areas of land throughout the State and would directly affect the lives and welfare of the people of Yap.”

To this end, the Legislature has “respectfully requested (the Governor) to defer signing an investment agreement proposed by the ETG until such time when the people of the State of Yap have been fully informed about the proposal...”

In response to this, Governor Anefal issued a letter to Speaker Falan dated February 28, 2012, which made clear that the State “has not entered into any investment agreement with ETG.” Further saying that, “currently there is no final agreement to execute.”

The Governor further stated “that there were no comments, suggestions, proposed revisions, or policy considerations communicated by the Legislature for inclusion in a counter-offer proposed by the State.” Furthermore, the Governor stated that the Legislature failed to comment on the informal counter-offer made by the State to the ETG for their consideration.

The Governor felt that “the process of negotiating a final agreement with ETG may be a lengthy one, and may involve communication of several drafts of an agreement...” and that “the most logical point and time to conduct any program of public education on the proposed ETG investment would be once the terms and conditions of an agreement have been largely finalized.”

Governor Anefal further expressed, “that as the elected leadership of the State we have a duty and responsibility to keep the people of the State informed about the actions of their government.”

The Governor ended his letter by inviting the Legislature to communicate their input in the ongoing negotiations, to collaborate in educating the communities, and to “present a unified resolute State leadership in any future dealings with ETG and others.”