A disinterested public is the biggest threat

By Kambes Kesolei

Last Thursday in his press briefing President Toribiong announced an important victory and good news to the great relief of all. The good news is the U.S Congress approved the DOI budget, and therefore, the extension of the financial assistance worth $18 million to Palau for another year. Say what you will, but there can be no denying that this news may have saved plenty faces as tough budget choices that await leaders, have been postponed for another day.

The republic won’t be withdrawing the $15 million from the Compact Trust Fund after all. And no one should be dancing in the streets as well because of it. The amount of money coming in is only temporary and might be the last time the republic sees that level of direct financial assistance. So far in the negotiation U.S has offered $10 million annually for 15 years while Palau countered with $15 million. Whatever figure is arrived at, it is a sure bet that requested amount will be less than the first 15 years of the compact. And with both propositions on the table splitting the difference might be the most likely agreed amount, short of Palau unilaterally discarding the entire compact agreement.

And because of the current funding issue, there is no better break than this budget cycle to setup the republic to operate on the assumption of less Compact funding. At any rate, if there’s a good time for excuses to be made then this is the time to nip from the bud that false hope that this second round of Compact funding is the rising tide that will lift all boats.

It is critical. The biggest threat to the republic right now is not the amount of government funding, lack of foreign investments, shark sanctuary, climate change, and casinos. But, the increasing lack of interest from the people.  It is reaching the tipping point where they don’t think their lives can be better. There used to be a prevalent feeling of hope once upon a time, because everyone thought that they could figure a way through. Not anymore.

While the elected leadership keeps talking of the economic hardships, it is the citizens who keep living in economic hardships. The people relate to such topics such as keeping up with rising costs of living, hospital short of medicines, sewer overflows their yards, citizens ready to build but no access road to subdivisions, crimes and youth delinquency, lack of employment and low income level. As the leadership class came in with so many promises, they still haven’t even figure a way to move forward – by default, muddling through as they go along.

In contrast, what the people have witnessed is the limited budget flew 41 national and state government officials to Manila conference at a cost of about $91,000. Immediate priorities are now competing for leadership attention in the same level as softball games of the east-west league; OEK meeting for one day and recessed the next several days during this regular session; congress representatives enjoying big wrapped hearty meal on tv; questionable passing of a casino bill after a trip to Korea; ethical concerns of passing a tax-exempt tuna export bill and allowing transshipment in a foreign port after a trip to Philippines. Contract executed under the radar to bring in fifty transport vessels to be anchored between Kuabesngas and Tlutkarnguis with questionable benefits to Koror State and the republic.

This is an important juncture of the republic’s modern political history, and apparently the actions of the leadership do not reveal with confidence that they are fully noticing it.

Palauans are starting to think the problems we are facing cannot be solved. Part of the reason is that the problems seem too big for this new class of leadership. But a larger part is that our national government, from the capitol complex of Ngerulmud to the state governments, seems to be demonstrating every day that they cannot make things better. They are not offering the promises and solutions they said more than a year ago during the campaign. They are basically becoming the ones in office they said they opposed and that they are better than them during the campaign trails.