Dear Editor,
In every village across Palau, people are whispering the same question: Where is our President? While our families struggle with rising prices, stagnant wages, and a growing crisis of drug abuse, the highest office in the land seems absent, physically and morally. Once again, he is off island, speaking on the global stage, while the home front waits in vain for answers.
Leadership is not measured by frequent flyer miles or by the number of speeches delivered at the United Nations. Leadership is measured by presence, by listening, by action. The people of Palau are tired of waiting for direction. The OEK has asked for a meeting. Our traditional leaders have asked for dialogue. Still, there is silence from the top.
The Cost of Living: The People’s War
Every household in Palau feels the squeeze of the high cost of living. Wages remain low, groceries remain expensive, and utilities remain a heavy burden. Instead of offering relief, this administration delivered the PGST, the so-called ‘Palau Government Stress Tax’. Businesses that are PGST registered receive refunds and credits. Non-profits, those who labor daily to provide services without charging their clients, are forced to pay the same import taxes, with no relief, no credits, no recognition. This is not just unfair policy; it is a betrayal of priorities. The perception now is unavoidable: the PGST benefits businesses, including the President’s own, while placing the greatest burden on ordinary Palauans and on organizations that serve the community.
A Government Is Not a Business
The President repeats the idea that government must be run like a business. But government is not a business. A business exists to generate profit. A government exists to serve its people. In business, an employee is paid by the company. In government, the President is paid by the people’s taxes. He does not work above us he works for us.
When leaders forget this truth, they govern for themselves and not for the people.
The Wrong War
Now we are told we are at war, because our friends are at war. But what about the war we face here at home? The war against drugs eating away at our youth. The war against poverty and hopelessness in our communities. The war against rising costs that pushes families to the breaking point. These are the wars the people of Palau need their President to fight.
Legacy in Question
So we must ask: what will be the legacy of this administration after eight years? What has been achieved for the people of Palau? For too many, the answer is clear: high costs, heavy taxes, absent leadership, and decisions made for business rather than people.
A degree may teach management. A company may teach profit. But a nation requires heart, humility, and presence. The people of Palau deserve a President who is here, who listens, and who acts. Until then, the Silent Majority will continue to ask the hardest question of all: Whose government is this—yours, or ours?
Your Humble Servant
Al Kahalic