KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — In his first State of the Republic Address, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. said he considers the passage of the bill to reorganize the government as one of his biggest accomplishments to date.
“In these first one hundred days, we have not wasted any time. With the help of the 11th Olbiil Era Kelulau [the Palau National Congress], we have begun implementing the recommendations of the transition committee.”
Whipps said the government is “being reorganized and realigned to improve services through greater transparency and accountability. Certainly, it is not about scaling down the workforce; instead, it is about improving services.”
He reiterated his campaign pledge to create a “people-centered government.”
Under the reorganization law, the the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs was dismantled with most of its functions now performed by the new Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development.
Whipps said the new ministry “represents a movement toward greater opportunity, for all Palauans, through a people-centered approach and proactive efforts to build economic opportunity.”
He added that a strategic plan will be drafted before he appoints the heads of the ministries.
The president also noted Palau’s progress in administering Covid-19 vaccines for which he thanked the United States.
“Today, I stand here fully vaccinated, in a room of vaccinated people, in a country with perhaps the highest Covid-19 vaccination rate. We lead a nation that, God willing, may not ever see a single Covid-19 death. The chances are very slim, and we are safe, thanks to our friends in the United States of America.”
Whipps said during his administration’s first 100 days, the travel bubble with Taiwan was launched, but added that restarting Palau’s tourism was not an easy task.
“It was not easy for health professionals, it was not easy for the tourism industry, and frankly, it was not easy for both countries, but we came together, and we took a bold step forward,” he said.
As for Palau’s debt, the president said it is increasing because it has to borrow money to maintain government operations.
His administration is proposing the replacement of the general imports tax with the Palau goods and services tax which he said is a value-added tax.
Whipps is also proposing that Palau move from gross revenue taxation to a business profits tax.
He said his administration will continue to work on “tax reforms” and the development of other sectors including domestic fishery and agriculture.
Surangel Whipps Jr.
