By: L.N. Reklai

April 13, 2017 (Koror, Palau) President Remengesau’s first State of the Republic Address (SORA) calls for steady course, keeping to the national agenda previously set.

“Almost all of the current members of the House of Delegates and all the incumbent Senators of this 10th OEK were all re-elected based on the same promises we all made, the promises to keep the best and improve the rest,” stated President Remengesau in his address.

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Giving advance notice to OEK members and the people of Palau, Remengesau stated that he will be repeating some of the same things that have been said before.

Specifically, he added, that they promised the people to improve their lives by increasing minimum wage, address pension plan, increase Social Security benefits, and reforming tourism industry toward high-end, high quality industry.

“We are here today because of the promises we made to the people,” asserted Remengesau.

On the current status of Palau, President reported that Palau has paid off its current debts to Social Security, Health Care Fund, Pension and PPUC and other vendors.

With OEK partnership, they maintained a general reserve fund account to address any emergency.  They’ve increased the minimum wage, reclassify teachers, nurses and police officers positions, provided cost of living allowance to government employees and created the PNMS.

“We have made strong and bold statement to the world that we as a small island nation look out for future well-being of our people  not only by law but also by action,” stated Remengesau.

Remengesau in his address reported on public infrastructures improvements such as sewer, water and submarine fiber optic cable projects.

He reported on the ongoing work to improve the airport terminal and increase of Palau’s use of green energy by 20% by 2022.

President Remengesau spent sometime addressing Palau’s policy direction toward high value tourism as one of the main item on the agenda.

“The question of the day, the month, the year that we all have to ask is,”Who are we developing Palau for? When is enough, enough?”

Signing two more bills into law, he said  “At the current rate of 6 laws passed every 3 months, by the end of the term, this OEK will have set a new record of laws passed.”

President encouraged OEK members to keep to the agenda and to pass the bills they promised to pass to improve peoples’ lives. [/restrict]