By: L.N. Reklai NGERULMUD, Palau (January 19, 2026) — The 12th Senate of the Olbiil Era Kelulau on Friday unanimously confirmed Roland Merar as the Republic of Palau’s Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, marking the first time Palau has appointed a resident ambassador to Australia. Merar’s confirmation was approved without objection following a favorable […]
Tag: Olbiil Era Kelulau
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Delegates introduce 32 bills in 12th OEK’s first year, aimed at reshaping key policies
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — Lawmakers in Palau’s House of Delegates introduced a high volume of legislation during the first year of the 12th Olbiil Era Kelulau, using delegate-authored bills to drive policy changes across the economy, labor, education, public safety and governance. From early 2025 through the end of the year, 40 bills […]
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Whipps Sends FY 2026 Budget Back to OEK Over Grant Approval ‘Red Line’
By: L.N. Reklai Koror, Palau (December 3, 2025) President Surangel Whipps Jr. announced today he is sending the FY 2026 Unified Budget bill back to the Olbiil Era Kelulau for reconsideration, objecting to a rider that would restrict the use of grants received after Oct. 31, 2025, without a separate law or joint resolution from […]
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Cost of repatriating 143 to reach $1m
The estimated costs of bringing back home 143 Palauan students and stranded citizens and putting them through 2 levels of quarantine, in Guam and in Palau will cost approximately $1,018,839 dollars according to the report provided to Olbiil Era Kelulau by the Office of the President on May 22, 2020. In a letter to Senate […]
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OEK seeks financial details of cost to bring back stranded citizens
The debate of whether to bring back stranded Palauan students and citizens abroad may have reached a turning point last week, with Palau congress requesting detail costs of bringing back stranded citizens in order to ensure that “stranded students and citizens are adequately cared for.” The initial plan to bring back stranded students and citizens […]
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PPUC seeks to raise tariff prices
It was revealed during a Senate hearing last week that the Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) is seeking to raise their tariffs to match world fuel prices and current inflation rates. Prior to the meeting, a prohibition was put in place by the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) to ensure that PPUC maintains the tariff price […]