In a phone interview with Basilius, he said that he had chosen to run because he is at his prime. He does not dispute the fact that he is younger than most of the other candidates in the HOD race.
“I believe that the focus of any organized policy making entity should be geared towards the benefit of the community to which the entity represents,” he said. “I am at an advantage because I am younger than all of the other candidates, which means I represent a greater of the population. Further, being young guarantees my outmost and sincere respect for senior members of the state whom I have learned so much from.”He said age does not define the quality of a candidate; it does set a limit to how long a person will be able to stand unaided on two feet. “I will be able to stand my ground,” he said.Basilius said that his current job – collecting bills (power and communication) – has allowed him to witness firsthand the difficulties that the people – especially the elderly -living in Melekeok State face at the end of each month.“The power and phone bills have sky rocketed to a point where they have placed so much strain of family budgets,” he said. “I feel so much for the people of Melekeok who are struggling to make ends meet.”Basilius said that if he is fortunate, he plans to work at a community-based level. He said that he will make every effort to convince his colleague to make laws based on the needs of the people served.“I plan to work with the leaders of the state – traditional and elected – and community members when proposing bills in HOD,” he said. “Their livelihoods, needs, and well-being are the essence of my running; and I will my very best to provide relief for them.”Basilius further added that he will work closely with non-government agencies such as Palau Conservation Society, Palau International Coral Reef Center, and the Nature Conservancy to ensure that Melekeok’s natural resources are protected and restored. In addition, he will introduce bills that would mandate incorporation of traditional and environmental studies into the public school system to make certain that Palau’s cultural values and traditional practices are not lost.Moreover, he said, he will work to introduce bills that would guarantee that every person in Palau receives adequate and affordable health care.“Not only that, I will look at all possible avenues to bring the power and communication rates down,” he added. “These are the very things that people rely on in their daily living.”“I pledge my full commitment to serve the interests of the people of Melekeok State in HOD,” Basilius said. “I am young, that I know, but like all of the other candidates I am able and prepared to work for the people; and I ask that I be blessed and accorded a chance to prove my abilities.”
