President Remengesau Jr. appointed Minister Umiich Sengebau of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism to be the Chairman of the upcoming Our Oceans 2020 Conference to be held here in Palau in August of 2020. His role will be to oversee the entire organization and implementation of the conference.
Minister Sengebau said that it is a great honor and responsibility that has been bestowed on him and that he looks forward to working with Palau’s Our Oceans 2020 Organizing Committee to deliver on the expectations of this conference.
“President Remengesau wants us to showcase Palau at this conference, that as a small country we have achieved a lot, particularly in the area of ocean conservation,” said Minister Sengebau.
Minister Sengeabau brings in a wealth of experience, not only as the current head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism but also as a former deputy director for The Nature Conservancy in Micronesia overseeing the implementation of conservation programs through out Micronesia.
Information from the Office of the President states that “his extensive background in the areas of biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, impact assessments, environmental planning and policy will greatly contribute to forming the conference’s content – ensuring that Palau meets its overarching vision of an “actions and solutions” driven Our Ocean conference.”
Preparation work has commenced with United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) already in Palau working with Palau’s 2020 Our Oceans Organizing Committee. Official handover of the Oceans Conference from last host country of Norway to Palau took place last week here in Palau.
The event which was first organized by former Secretary of State John Kerry of the United States during the Obama Administration has been traditionally hosted by Ministers of State or Foreign Ministries of the hosting government. (L.N. Reklai)