Dear Editor,
In this year’s general election for President, VP, Senators and Delegates of the Republic of Palau, I predict that majority of the winners would not be based on the candidates’ qualification but based on those with the most kin. Welcome to Palauan Style democracy.In sports, the best man’s abilities win but, in Palauan polities, it’s the kinship factor that decides the election’s outcome because of the number of relatives who vote, donate money freely in many ways to lure voters, young and old.In a recent election, a state legislature candidate with a law degree, who worked in both the executive and the legislative branch of the national government lost to those without high school diplomas. Again, its not his qualification but his relatives’ votes as a reason for winning as mentioned above.Palau is still a young nation so it is still in the “democratic head start”. It will take some more years or generations to mature up and be a self sufficient and efficient nation.Best of luck to those candidates who seeks the elected offices of our government. May the voters choose for the best qualified candidates first before they think of their relatives. Lets’ ask the voters in this election to make Palau truly a government of the people, by the people and for the peopleBalerio U. Pedro
