Overview:
Opinion: A letter from Dudalm Kelulau argues that Palau’s tax policies, particularly the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST), place too much pressure on ordinary families. The writer calls on Congress and the president to consider tax relief on food and fuel and says economic development should put the well-being of citizens at the center of government policy.
Dear Editor,
Economic development has become the obsession of governments worldwide. Leaders talk endlessly about GDP growth, foreign investment, and infrastructure projects. Yet the people who make up the foundation of the economy, ordinary families, are left struggling to make ends meet. This is not just an executive problem. It is a leadership problem, and it is global.
In Palau, we see the same lack of principle. Congress makes the laws, the president implements them, and the justices interpret them. But nowhere does it say that the Olbiil Era Kelulau should sit on its hands while the executive taxes the people into hardship. The Palau Government Stress Tax (PGST) has become a burden that ordinary citizens cannot escape, while corporations benefit from credits, exemptions, and even breaks when their products don’t sell. And to make matters worse, when the Military buys things to build in Palau they don’t have to pay the PGST. What a con job.
If Congress truly represents the people, then it must act. Pass a law that stops taxing food and fuel so families can get relief. And if the president vetoes it, override that veto. That is the responsibility of leaders who were elected to serve the people, not corporations. Stop talking too much and start doing what you were voted to do: create a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Not a government where citizens pay too much so corporations can profit.
If tax collections fall short, that is not the people’s fault. Government must find other ways to balance the books, even if it means debt for the sake of its citizens. Or better yet, tax the corporations who benefit from PGST to cover the cost. Stop following the example of the “Orangeman” and his idiocracy. Be principled leaders who put people first, not just in campaign slogans but put it into practice.
As a church-fearing nation, perhaps our leaders need to be reminded of Matthew 23:1-7: “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” Too often, leaders preach sacrifice while enjoying privilege. They love the place of honor, the greetings of respect, and the titles of power, but they do not lift the burdens they place on others.
Economic development should not mean taxing the people into poverty. It should mean creating opportunities for families to thrive. Relief from food and fuel taxes would be a start. Real leadership means practicing what you preach, lifting burdens instead of adding to them, and remembering that government exists to serve the people — NOT TO PROFIT FROM THEM.
Everything for Everyone and Nothing for Ourselves. That is the principle of true leadership.
Your Humble Servant
Dudalm Kelulau
THE SILENT MAJORITY