Republic of Palau | ||
Hauro Willter
Freely Associated States CIP Coordinator |
Office of Insular Affairs
Department of the Interior Post Office Box 6031 Koror, Palau 96946 |
011 (680) 488-2601
011 (680) 488-2649 Fax EST + 14 hours DST + 13 hours |
History
Western contact with Palau first took place in l783 when the vessel of explorer,
Captain Henry Wilson of England, was shipwrecked near the islands. The British
dominated trade with Palau until 1885; however, Spain claimed control of Palau
until 1899. In l899, Spain sold Palau, along with the rest of the Caroline and
Northern Mariana Islands, to Germany following its defeat in the Spanish-American
War.
During the German administration of the island from 1899 to 1914, Germany increased Palau's economic potential by introducing coconut planting and phosphate mining. The Germans also introduced widespread sanitary measures to combat epidemics of influenza and dysentery. Those two diseases caused the population of Palau to fall from 40,000 to 4,000 in approximately 120 years.
Japanese forces occupied Palau in 1914. The League of Nations recognized the Emperor of Japan as the mandatory power in a mandated territory which included the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae as well as Palau. The Japanese increased efforts in mining, agriculture, and commercial fishing. Palau became a closed military area in 1938. Fighting during World War II took place throughout Palau, principally in Peleliu, Angaur, and Koror.
In 1947, the United Nations created the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) and named the United States as the TTPI's administering authority. Palau was the last TTPI district. The TTPI originally included six districts, which now comprise four Islands jurisdictions: an insular area in political union with and under the sovereignty of the United States (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and three freely associated states (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).
In the 1960's, President Kennedy introduced the Peace Corps into Micronesia. Many Federal programs, especially those in the fields of health and education, were also extended to the Trust Territory. In the late 1970's, the United States embarked upon an ambitious capital improvement program (CIP) with the goal of building major infrastructure projects (airport, dock, roads, and water, power, and sewer systems) in each of the district centers. Funding of these CIP projects is now complete.
Political Status
On October 1, 1994, the Compact of Free Association between the United States
and Palau entered into force. Having been signed in Palau by American and
Palauan representatives on January 10, 1986, the Compact is the core of the
Compact of Free Association Act (U.S. Public Law 99-658), which was enacted
on November 14, 1986.
Under the Compact, the status of free association recognizes Palau as a sovereign state with the capacity to conduct foreign affairs consistent with the terms of the Compact. The Compact places full responsibility for Palau's defense with the United States. The Compact also provides grant funds and Federal program assistance, principally through the Department of the Interior.
Under the Compact, the State Department is responsible for government-to-government relations, while Interior is responsible for the oversight and coordination of U.S. programs and funding assistance.
Government
The Government of Palau has three branches: executive, legislative and judicial.
The President and Vice President of Palau are elected by popular vote every
four years. The current President, since January 19, 2001, is the Honorable
Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and the Vice President is the Honorable Sandra Pierantozzi.
(Current Administration)
Palau has a bicameral national legislature the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK), which consists of a House of Delegates (l6 elected members, one from each of Palau's states) and a Senate (l4 elected members). Council of Chiefs traditional leaders advises the President on matters concerning traditional law and custom. The Judicial Branch consists of a Supreme Court, National Court, and a lower Court of Common Pleas, members of which are appointed for life. Each of the sixteen states has its own elected state government.
Geography
Palau consists of more than 200 Pacific Ocean islands in the Caroline chain;
only eight of the islands are permanently inhabited. The Palau archipelago
stretches over l50 miles and has 170 square miles of dry land. The capital
of Palau, Koror, lies 3,997 miles west/southwest of Honolulu; 8l3 miles south
of Guam; and 530 miles from Manila.
The average temperature is 81.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 27.9 degrees Celsius. The Humidity is 84 percent and the precipitation is 147.25 inches annually. The average annual rainfall is 147.10 inches. February to May are the driest months; the rainy season is June-October.
Population
Based on the 2000 U.S. Census, total population is 19,129. There are
10,450 males and 8,012 females. Median age of 30.8 is up from 18.8 in 1980.
Annual growth rate is 2.1 percent, down from 2.6 percent in 1995.
Indigenous Palauans make up 13,364 of the 2000 population while foreigners from
the Philippines makes up the majority of the remaining 30% or 5,765.
In 1990, total population was 15,122.
Culture
Palauan culture has three major themes including prestige orientation; competition
between individuals and clans; and reciprocity and manipulation of gifts,
money, good and services. Kinship is the major determinant of social behavior
and each individual in Palauan society, from the moment of birth, had a definite
rank in the village, clan, and family. This rank is based on family background.
Palauan is the major language and it is spoken without major dialectical differences.
Economy
In Fiscal Year 1999, the total budget is $71 million. The operating budget
is $57 million with the remaining $14 million for capital improvement projects.
Out of the $71 million budget, $32 million (approximately 45%) comes from
Compact Funds.
Tourism and construction are the main private sector industries. Visitor arrivals grew to 58,560 in FY 2002 from 32,846 in l999. Average wages grew to $7,718 in FY 2001 for about 10,578 workers from $6020 in FY 1990.
In FY 2002, government revenues dropped slightly to 70.1M and expenditures grew to 79.7M.
PALAU GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)
Change
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 (Percent)
Economic Activity ($000)
Agriculture 1,579 1,231 1,312 1,398 1,358 1,372 1,399 600 57.1
Fisheries 3,918 2,973 2,057 2,038 3,148 3,274 3,372 700 79.2
Mining & Quarrying 301 158 138 176 218 229 240 1,800 650.0
Manufacturing 851 997 1,403 1,702 1,609 1,690 1,774 800 54.9
Electricity, Gas and Water 303 (8) (388) 2,360 3,393 3,563 3,741 3,300 11.8
Construction 7,395 8,545 8,834 10,389 8,249 8,661 9,181 13,100 42.7
Trade 18,238 20,995 23,913 24,837 23,165 23,860 24,337 26,100 7.2
Hotels and Restaurants 12,794 15,360 13,986 12,370 11,938 12,057 12,419 7,100 42.8
Transport and Communication 8,345 7,270 8,734 9,191 9,846 10,338 10,855 5,500 49.3
Finance & Insurance 4,210 5,294 6,573 5,706 4,297 4,511 4,647 1,900 59.1
Real Estate & Business Services 6,262 7,570 6,298 6,555 4,611 4,842 5,036 5,000 0.7
Public Administration 23,203 26,813 29,401 28,462 29,374 30,255 30,860 31,900 3.4
Other Services 6,480 9,807 9,211 9,907 9,691 9,982 10,381 7,500 27.8
Subtotal 93,879 107,005 111,472 115,091 110,897 114,634 118,242 105,300 10.9
Less: Imputed Bank Service Charge 1,743 2,100 2,100 2,640 2,384 1,250 1,250 1,250 0.0
Plus: Import Duties 3,101 3,298 3,842 4,869 4,972 3,842 3,842 5,455 42.0
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 95,237 108,203 113,214 117,320 113,485 117,226 120,834 109,505 9.4
Source: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Public Sector Development Project, and Bu
Communications
Worldwide calls, telex, cable and facsimile, email and internet are available
through the semi-autonomous Palau National Communication Corporation. Telephone
calls to Palau must be placed through an international direct dial system.
All overseas calls from Palau can be dialed directly. COMSAT has an earth
station on Koror.
Two government-operated radio station and privately owned radio stations and television station serve the media needs of Palau. There are also two local newspapers, Tia Belau and Palau Horizons, both are bi-weekly publications.
Palau is within the U.S. domestic postal system. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service has classified Palau as falling within zone 8 for priority mail and second- and fourth-class mail.
Transportation
Continental Micronesia serves Palau with daily flights to and from Guam. There
are direct flights twice a week, to and from Manila, and the Philippines.
There are no commuter airlines.
Education
Most Palauan children attend free public schools. The school system is patterned
after the U.S. school system. There are also Catholic, Evangelical, Seventh-Day
Adventist Mission Schools and a traditional Modekngei High School. The Palau
Community College located in Koror, was founded in l969 as a vocational training
center. It is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Health Services
Two private medical clinics and a new public hospital provide general medical
and dental care. A decompression chamber is available for diving emergencies.
Land Ownership
Under the laws of Palau, land cannot be owned by any non-Palauan citizens
or firms. Sites for business, however, can be leased either from the government
or private landowners. Length and terms of lease are negotiable.
Travel Requirements
United States citizens traveling to Palau must have proof of citizenship (a
passport or birth certificate). Non-United States citizens must have a valid
passport. Travel under 30 days does not require prior-entry permission. Travel
over 30 days must be approved prior to entry by the Palau Immigration Officer,
Koror, Palau 96940. All visitors should have return or onward tickets and
a $20.00 departure tax is levied at time of departure. Immunization is required
if arriving from an infected area of smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever.
Contact: Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 460 Koror, Palau 96940 011 (680) 488-2504 or 4955 011 (680) 488-1517 Fax
Minister of Justice P.O. Box 790 Koror, Palau 96940 011 (680) 488-3198 011 (680) 488-4567 Fax
Currency
The U.S. dollar is the currency used in Palau.
For More Information
Contact: Palau Visitors Authority Post Office Box 256 Koror, Palau 96940 011
(680) 488-1930 or 2793 011 (680) 488-1453 Fax Email:
pva@palaunet.com
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