Delegate Kesolei has managed to achieve, in such a short time, what would take years for many to realize. Kesolei’s recent appointment to represent Palau as a member of the Board of Directors of APIL was a rare occurrence for any first term Congressman. Then this past week during the 28th General Assembly of APIL in Pohnpei, the Ngardmau Delegate distinguished himself yet again, by being chosen by his regional colleagues as APIL’s Vice President. ‘Having a Palauan as vice president of APIL automatically puts Palau in the candidacy for the Presidency next year, during the 29th APIL General Assembly meeting in Kiribati’, reported Delegate Kesolei.
APIL was formed in 1981 and is comprised of legislative members of twelve emerging island governments of the Pacific Region. The twelve member governments include Independent States and territories which are the Republics of Palau, Marshalls, Nauru, and Kiribati, the FSM States of Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae, the U.S territories of CNMI, Guam and American Samoa and the U.S State of Hawaii.APIL’s founding document states that the association be structured with sufficient capability and permanence to address, in depth, the substantive regional and international issues facing the emerging Pacific Governments. Member governments must meet regularly to consider areas where regional cooperation, coordination, exchange, and assistance may help governments achieve their goals through collective action.Delegate Kesolei says that ‘the dominating issue of last week’s meeting in Pohnpei is the current plan for United States Military build in Guam and how it will effect the governments and economies of the region.’
