Kanai: “Ak Diobengkem – I am with you”

In a written statement, Kanai said that Palau is “caught in a most unprecedented socio-economic crisis”; and any attempts at finding solutions to address “this crisis has to be immediate, carefully calculated and innovative.”Kanai served as a senator from 2000 to 2004.During his tenure as a senator, he served as the Senate’s Floor Leader for the duration of his term; chaired the Senate’s Committee of the Whole; and chaired the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and State Relations.Prior to being elected as a senator, he served as the Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 2000.In 2004, Kanai ran for re-election; and though his bid “was unsuccessful, “the socio-economic wellbeing” of every household in Palau “remained his highest concern,” he stated.“Delatk a Elbuled” – literally meaning “keeping in our thoughts our struggles” – he stated, was his slogan, which became an innate part of him as he delved into private entrepreneurship.In the process, he stated, he “developed a more economical alternative means of producing [practical, inexpensive, and efficient use of energy] to alleviate household energy [costs].He manufactured “sumi” (charcoal) stoves and produced sumi – many of which he distributed to the elderly, free of charge.In his statement, Kanai said that “the depth of passion for the people” of Palau and his desire to “contribute toward solutions” to make life for Palauans better has prompted him to run again.He states that the extent of his experiences in public service, his educational background, and his zeal to help those in need allow and enable him to endure and to seek all avenues through which he could best be of valuable service to his people during “these challenging times.”Kanai declared yesterday to run for the Senate in the November 2008 elections.He stated, “The people have always been and will always be my priority”; and “I will work for each and every person – Ak diobengkem.”