BWA – an alliance of the states of Ngaremlengui, Melekeok, Ngiwal, Aimeliik, and Ngardmau to protect Babeldaob’s watersheds and water sources from damage, to maintain the quality of water, and to preserve the integrity of the environment in collaborative efforts -had organized and hosted the summit to bring attention of Palau’s leaders, relevant agencies and organizations, and the public to focus on management of Palau’s water sources.
BWA had invited the key stake holders in the Babeldaob watersheds – governors and legislative members of the Babeldaob States, members of the national congress, candidates in the running for the various public offices, representatives of relevant government agencies, representatives of non-government conservation organizations, and community members – to meet to “raise awareness and garner support and commitment to protecting Babeldaob’s water sources.”Work on the protection of Babeldaob’s water sources has been implemented in the allied states; however, BWA’s work would be futile without the support and commitment of non-allied neighboring states and national leaders to advocate and pursue the protection of the water in Babeldaob.Ngirmang has stated that everyone should be encouraged and urged to protect and conserve water because “water is the property of the rocks and soil and we are but mere users of it.”He further said that if the water quality is destroyed today, everyone alive and those who will be born would suffer the consequences, “our lives and the lives of our children would be difficult.”Chief Ngirturong Yamasaki Rengiil remarked, “candidates campaign about electrical power, yet we have lived without power before and have survived; but we certainly could not have had our taro patches without water.”Candidates who were seen at the summit were Kathy Kesolei, Gail Ngirmidol, Jennifer Sugiyama-Yano, Gillian Johanes, John B. Skebong, Delegate Noah Idechong, Alan Seid and Vice-president Elias Camsek Chin.Chin was invited to address the gathering in which he stated, “water is the source of life and there can’t be a viable economy without water.” He further gave examples of places he visited that had scarce water sources that their economies could not be sustained as a result.BWA coordinator, Joyce Beouch, said that BWA has taken steps into saying that water is important. The allied states have identified their conversation areas and began working to protect their watersheds.“We hope to inspire the other Babeldaob states and, for that matter, everyone else to develop plans and strategy to protect our water,” she said. “We all depend on water and we must all take a stance to protect its sources.”Kashgar Rengulbai, the chairman of BWA steering committee, further added that the work has begun but the goal is yet to be reached, “we must all work together to generate ideas, develop goals, and most of all, work with the same focus to protect and manage our water sources.”Participants at the summit raised questions and concerns about the current status of water management practices in Palau. Discussions about water and water sources and preparations to address the concerns about the water quality and quantity have been initiated.“We hope that water awareness flows out of this summit and reaches everyone,” Beouch said. “We hope the concerns fall into the right ears and drains into the hearts of everyone.”
