A Call for Leadership Rooted in the Constitution
Dear Editor,
“In exercising our inherent sovereignty, We the people of Palau proclaim and reaffirm our immemorial right to be supreme in these islands of Palau, our homeland…” These words, etched into the opening lines of Palau’s Constitution, are not poetry for display. They are our political compass, a living promise to guide our leaders in every decision made on behalf of the people. But promises mean little if they are not practiced. The preamble, by definition, introduces the spirit and principles of a constitution. It is not a decoration, it is direction. And if this is our map, then where exactly are our leaders taking us today? Too often, our leaders use the preamble as a ceremonial chant, an obligatory opening before shifting back to their real business: self-preservation, political favoritism, and maintaining power for its own sake.
Our Constitution speaks of “full reliance on our own efforts and the divine guidance of Almighty God.” Yet our national direction seems increasingly reliant on external investors, foreign consultants, and exploitative partnerships that benefit the few and burden the many. Have we forgotten that God’s guidance is not in favor of greed? Where is the national plan that turns sovereignty into self-reliance? Are we creating new industries that serve our people, or just signing deals that enrich political insiders? Tourism, fishing, and real estate speculation dominate our economic vision, but are these truly for the people? Or just a few people? Our economy remains dependent, our youth uninspired, and our public systems is not meeting the needs of the people.
A country without a plan is a canoe without a paddle. It drifts wherever the wind of foreign interests blows. We must ask ourselves: is our President’s plan only to raise government revenue by taxing the already overburdened citizen? Is the goal to monetize every inch of paradise for visitors while locals struggle with rising costs and limited opportunity? The preamble speaks of peace, justice, and national identity yet we are selling our islands piece by piece in the name of “development.”
And to our Olbiil era Kelulau: you were elected to make laws, not run the executive branch. If you want to run ministries and manage agencies, then submit your names for the next presidential election. Otherwise, do your job. Know your constitutional role. Stop playing games with the people’s welfare as your pawns. As delegate representing a hundred people must remember: humility is not optional. In our small population, everyone knows your journey, your missteps, your roots. Don’t act like hot stuff when you’re just…stuff.
This isn’t about disrespect. It’s about accountability. Leadership must be earned every day, not through press releases or ribbon cuttings, but through service, honesty, and the tireless pursuit of equity. The Zapatistas in Mexico say: “Everything for everyone, nothing for ourselves.” That is the kind of leadership we need in Palau selfless, grassroots, and guided by principle not foreign or economic self-interest.
Let us return to the Constitution, not as a symbolic document, but as our national contract. Let us build industries that honor our heritage, support our youth, and keep wealth circulating within our communities. Let us create policies that serve the many, not the few. Let us stop the political theater and begin the hard, honest work of transformation.
The preamble is clear: sovereignty, heritage, peace, and self-reliance under God. These are not abstract ideals, they are instructions. It’s time our leaders started following them.
Your Humble Servant
Al Kahalic