President Remengesau and the Palau Leadership Launch Preparation for the Hosting of the “Our Oceans” Conference in 2020
For Immediate Release
Serial No. PR-18-094
February 13, 2018
Office of the President
President Remengesau and the Palau Leadership Launch Preparation for the Hosting of the “Our Oceans” Conference in 2020
On February 12th, President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. and the Palau Leadership together launched preparation for the hosting of the “Our Oceans” Conference in 2020 through the signing of Executive Order No. 411 that creates an Executive Committee for the Conference, RPPL No. 10-18 establishing a dedicated account for “Our Oceans” Conference, and RPPL No. 10-19 appropriating $100,000 to Our Oceans Conference 2020 Fund.
“Tonight we are officially announcing our work and responsibility in hosting the 2020 “Our Ocean” Conference. The question is, how and why Palau? Well, we are going to host this Conference because we will have something positive to contribute”, stated President Remengesau before national, state and traditional leaders during the launching ceremony held at Ming’s Restaurant, Palasia Hotel. “We will share with the world what our culture is and what we have been doing throughout our history, through our traditional knowledge and practices. We will share with the world our practices that have been proven effective by scientists. That’s why Palau will be, perhaps, the first country to host an international conference with a population of 20,000.”
He further stated, “We want to believe big ideas can come from small places. While it is true that Palau is only 1% land and 99% ocean, I think we should also be glad that we are may be a small island state, but we are a large ocean state. As caretakers of a large ocean, we do know how to take care of the ocean. We do know and understand the ocean. Our lives revolve around the cycle of the moon and what we do with the ocean.”
During the launching ceremony, Paramount Chief Raphael B. Ngirmang announced Melekeok State Government and its leadership have pledged a land for the construction of a Convention Center that could be used during the Conference.
The ceremony was also attended by members of non-profit organizations and civil societies. The Nature Conservancy whose representatives attended the ceremony announced donation of $50,000 to the Fund.
Click on the following link to download this press release: Press Release re. Launching of Preparation for Our Oceans Conference_13FEB2018_FINAL