Palau official leads Independence Day fete on Saipan

Palau’s Minister of State Temmy Shmull spent time enumerating some of the major economic gains of his country at the celebration yesterday of the 14th anniversary of Palau Independence Day at the American Memorial Park.

Over a hundred members of the Palauan Community Association on Saipan packed the Micro Beach Pavilion inside the American Memorial Park, with Shmull as their guest of honor.

Shmull congratulated the island’s Palauan community for their effort to hold the event on an annual basis despite being away from home.

Palau gained its independence from the United States in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association.

There are about 300 Palauans on Saipan. The celebration was marked by inspiring speeches and the traditional potluck that included turkey, fish, taro, tapioca, and other Palauan delicacies.

The other Palauans leading the celebration were Pastor Ted Ngewakl, Honorary Consul for Palau on Saipan Joe Lifoifoi, PCA vice president Norman Mabel and event organizing committee chair Rita Kazuma.

PCA president Rufino Aguon was not able to attend because he is in Guam, coaching the CNMI national junior basketball team in the ongoing Oceania championships.

Former Palau senator Steven Kanai, who is seeking to return to his old post in the November general elections, also showed up earlier in the day.

The Governor of the outlying State of Angaur, Horace Rafael, was also present to ask for support in his bid for a seat in the House of Delegates.

Shmull said that even before foreign countries ruled his country, Palau has always been independent.

Thus, he said, the right term is “we have regained our independence from Saipan, Germany, Japan and the United States.”

He said that contrary to the claims of some politicians during the recent primary elections that nothing had been done by past administrations, there had been a lot of infrastructure projects that spurred economic development in Palau since it regained independence.

He said after the Palau constitution became effective in 1981, the leaders were able to work on basic infrastructure projects.

He said it was during the time of President Lazarus Salii that the retirement program was established, which had a big impact on the social development of the country.

The Etpison and Nakamura and Remengesau presidencies, he said, have led to unprecedented economic growth because even before the “Compact Road” was completed, there were already access roads being worked out.

He recalled that it was during the Nakamura administration that the Compact money became available but before that he said the U.S. government required Palau to submit an Economic Development Plan. The EDP had to be scrutinized by the U.S. Congress before any funds would be made available.

Following the signing of the Compact of Free Association in 1994, the U.S. agreed to provide millions of financial assistance to Palau in education, economic and social services that will last for 15 years, which means this would expire in 2009.

Palau and the U.S. are scheduled to conduct a review of the financial package in February next year.

The COFA money, Shmull said, is a crucial to the further improvement of basic services like roads, water system and electricity, not only in the town center but in the outlying areas.

He said that investors will become confident if “we have these basic infrastructures.”

He recalled that the “Compact Road,” so called because the money that was spent to build the 5.3-mile highway in the biggest island of Babeldaob came from the COFA fund, was originally intended by the U.S. government for an access road to the military camps during the Trust Territory days.

“Our past leaders were able to negotiate this with the U.S. as their legacy in Palau,” he said.