By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Saying he wanted to share some of his visions for the future of the Republic of Palau, House Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu has just released a four-page article he wrote right after the National Economic Symposium wherein he commented that there was no unified vision for the future of Palau.
Mesebeluu identified numerous legislation that are currently being reviewed by the House of Delegates that he deemed it necessary to increase revenue, provide employment opportunities and broaden tax base.
"I just want to share to all Palauans this article I wrote after I participated intensely during the Symposium," he said.
The article is entitled "Response and Call to Action" written on March 8 with the following opening statement that the National Economic Symposium brought together government leaders and international experts to ascertain the future of Palau and to create a roadmap of the sustainable economic development for the next 25 years and beyond.
Mesebeluu said however, that during the Symposium, "it became overwhelmingly clear that a unified vision for the future of Palau fails to exist."
He said that one can not create a roadmap when the destination is yet unknown.
For this reason, Mesebeluu said, it is imperative that Palau’s governmental leaders, non-profit organizations, agencies and citizens make a concerted effort to create a framework for the future of Palau, incorporating the stated goals of good governance, private sector development and cultural and environmental sustainability.
Mesbeluu wrote that while the first step in this process, identifying generalized goals, has been achieved, "we must act swiftly, before our momentum is lost."
Mesebeluu said that during the Symposium, the functioning of the Republic was dissected and analyzed, its faults brought to the surface and identified by experts from around the world.
Mesebeluu lined-up integral future tasks including better management of public services, greater accountability of public service providers and the implementation of strategic planning for development.
"The shelves of our government agencies are filled with surveys, studies and plans. Each day that passes without action is another delay in the forward movement of our nation," he said.
Mesebeluu cited constitutional mandates for the national government to promote environmental conservation, safety and security of the nation, development of social capital, health care and education.
"Thus, far, our leadership and our choices have been reactionary, piecemeal efforts to mitigate and resolve problems that are already occurring. The time is now for our leadership to take action," he said.
He urged Congress to craft comprehensive legislation that would strengthen the private sector and provide job and investment opportunities.
"The time has come for a shift in government responsibility and the privatization of public services to open up the private sector and make room for economic growth," noted Mesebeluu.
Mesebeluu proposed that the National Government would reduce its spending by $2.5 percent commencing in the 2008 fiscal year.
He also said that in order to facilitate the success of Palau in the global economy, it must strengthen its economic base by broadening revenue sources and reforming the current system.
With this, he said, comes the preservation of the environment.
He said that the collective leadership of Palau must take action to formulate a unified vision for the future.
"Our nation epitomizes the majestic beauty of small island culture, yet has the resources and the ability to become a viable player in the global economy. The time has come to choose a destination for our future, to articulate the balance that we would like to strike between these two concepts. We must collectively devise a model for the next 25 years," he said.
He said that the HOD created a legislative vision that encapsulated their hope for the future of Palau:
"We the House of Delegates, have developed a long term vision for the future of Palau in order to provide for a sustainable island life. The key to attaining this vision is the establishment of Palau’s economic self-sufficiency within the world market. Over time we have become accustomed to relying on the generous aid and grants of our foreign allies. Though we have appreciated the assistance, the time has come to implement the legislative steps that will drive Palau into becoming an economically self-sufficient nation. To do so we must make changes in the way we financially operate and do business. We need to work on fostering economic partnerships, both local and foreign, to increase access to capital and create jobs in what are now neglected segments of our business market. We need to pass both financial and corporate legislation that will reduce the challenges of launching and maintaining a business in Palau. And finally, we need to establish a long term plan for economic development that meets the needs and values of our economy. This vision will guide us in charting our current legislative course by keeping in mind the environmental, social, and economic foundations that guide our nation today and in the future."