Dear Editor,
The recent dismissal of the defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Surangel Whipps Sr. against Island Times brings some closure to a year-long legal battle, but it does not end the deeper questions this case has raised. Beyond the courtroom, there is a larger issue of public trust, transparency, and accountability that still demands answers.
At the heart of this controversy is the leak of Surangel & Sons Company’s tax documents, which the company denounced as false, altered, and politically motivated. Yet, it is important to remember that the leak originated amid a campaign narrative promoted by President Surangel Whipps Jr., asserting that large companies, including his own families, were paying more taxes under the new Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) system. The leaked information appeared to contradict that claim, showing that the company’s tax payments had, in fact, decreased significantly compared to the former tax system.
Adding to public concern, during a presidential press conference on October 30, 2024 the Minister of Finance (Kaleb Udui, Jr.) himself confirmed that the leaked documents appeared to have come from within the Ministry of Finance. If this is true, it raises a crucial question: who will be held accountable for this breach? If government information was mishandled or misused, should the focus not also be on how and why that occurred? Shouldn’t Surangel & Sons Company also file a lawsuit against the government? The president? The minister of finance?
Palau Press Conference October 30, 2024 is on YouThbe here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jNZbpiqNgb4?si=Lnl3rRJG7mdi_zsE
This situation touches the highest levels of power- the President, his family’s multimillion-dollar company, and their government contracts. It also exposes conflicting narratives between public officials about how the PGST law has been explained and implemented. Has the new tax regime been misrepresented to the people of Palau? And if so, to whose benefit? And now with the President serving as the minister of finance, and Udui, Jr. as Director of the government’s budgeting office, can we expect good ethics and accountability?
These are not small matters. When those in positions (!)f influence appears to evade scrutiny or shape information for political gain, the very foundation of democratic governance is weakened. Palauans deserve clear, factual answers, not silence or deflection.
I urge Island Times Newspaper, Tia Belau Newspaper and other members of the press to continue investigating this story, not to target individuals, but to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and accountability. This is not about politics; it is about the integrity of our institutions and the public’s right to know.
At these Press Conferences, the media should ask the President, the Ministry of Finance, and former Minister Kaleb Udui to clarify what truly happened. The people of Palau deserve transparency and honesty in matters that affect our economy, governance, and public trust.
Thank you very much, Concerned Citizen