Echeu er a Beluu which roughly translates to “what transpires among the common people,” aims to elicit comments from the public — the community members who are not working for high level governments, the non-governmental organizations, men’s and women’s traditional groups, students, civil societies, contemporary groups — so the leaders can gauge what the people really want and need.
The project is organized by Ann Kloulechad-Singeo, Chief of Division of Gender, Bureau of Aging and Gender of MCCA, and Minister of MCCA Faustina Rehurer-Marugg, and funded both by the European Union and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
“We are in the middle of developing a cultural policy for Palau,” Singeo said in an interview. “And this forum will sort of filter out the common concerns from the people and what they would like to be represented within the cultural policy. That’s one.”
The other one, she said, is to give the community a voice to speak out their concerns with regards to human rights and democratic principles.
“There has never been a human rights and democratic principles forum for Palau,” Singeo added. There was one a couple of months ago but it was based on the national government level. “This one is the first one to take place at the people’s level.”
Third, on the topic of “Special Representations – In Senate,” it’s all about trying to raise awareness. “It’s to begin a new dimension on looking at current elected officials to see if Olbiil Era Kelulau truly represents the people, whether they represent the general population, including the marginalized population.”
The forum will have participants from the minority population, people with disabilities, the women’s sector. “These are the issues that we will be discussing in the forum,” Rehurer-Marugg said. “But it’s really about trying to see a different level of representation.”
During the public forum next week, a representative from the SPC who is based in Pohnpei and one from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will be participating.
“We’re anticipating about 200 people to join us,” Rehurer-Marugg said. “We are inviting the community to share their views and their comments and their thoughts on the issues.”
Some speakers who have participated in the civil society and activities for human rights and democratic principles from the earlier times until now, as well as younger ones with share their views on the different issues.
“It’s doing some sort of comparison to really capture how the people feel about these certain topics,” Singeo said.
The forum will be open for everyone. There will be an open forum at the end of every presentation. Anyone who is interested can just drop by the Cultural Center from 8:00 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday and Thursday, next week.
Minister Rehurer-Marugg added that they want to raise awareness for the community members, for the people who actually make the community tick, organizations who ensure that the taro patch is cared for, those who live in the village, who sell produce in the market, the life of the community — the unsung heroes.
“We want to make it as fun as possible and as educational as possible, encompassing all the people,” she said.
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