Palau State Overview

Government and politics

According to abbreviationfinder, the country of Palau has a type of constitutional government, in free association with the United States, through the Treaty of Free Association. He said the treaty entered into rigor 1 of October of 1994, and involves financial assistance from the United States for periods of 15 years, in exchange for certain rights of defense.

The President of Palau, who is Head of State and Head of Government, is elected by the Palauan people every four years. The government he heads consists of a bicameral parliament, called Olbiil Era Kelulau. The members of both houses are chosen by the town; 16 are part of the Senate, and 18 of the House of Delegates. There is a Council of Chiefs that acts as a presidential advisory body. It has a judicial system based on a Supreme Court. The current president is Tommy Remengesau. He was elected in 2000 and took office in 2001. He had previously served as vice president. He was reelected in 2004.

Political-administrative organization

Palau is divided into sixteen administrative provinces, called states:

Geography

Palau (officially Beluu er a Belau in Palau and Republic of Palau in English) is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, which is part of the continent of Oceania and is located 500 km east of the Philippines. Independent from the United States since 1994, it is one of the youngest and least populated countries in the world. The English form Palau or the local Belau can also be found, but the Academies of the language disapprove of its use in Spanish and advise the traditional Spanish form Palaos.

The most important islands of Palau are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror and Peleliu, which are very close to each other on the same barrier reef. About two-thirds of the population lives in Koror. North of these islands is the Kayangel coral atoll, while the uninhabited Roca Islands (about 70 islands) are located west of the main group of islands. A remote group of six islands, called as the Southwest Islands, which lie 600 km from the main islands, are also part of the country.

Climate

Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an average annual temperature of 27ºC. Rains can occur during the year, the annual average is 3,800 mm. The humidity is around 82%, and the rains fall more frequently between July and October. The typhoons are rare because the country is outside the typhoon zone.

Demography

Palau’s population is approximately 19,000. The largest ethnic group (70%) are the Palauan natives, of Melanesian origin. Micronesians, Polynesians, Indo-Europeans, Asians (mostly from the Philippines), and Europeans are among the minority groups. See population of Palau.

The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except in three states (Sonsoral, Hatohobei, and Angaur) where the local languages are official instead of Palauan. In Angaur, Japanese is also official.

Culture

Arts and crafts

Although in recent decades Palau has adapted to an international economy, for the most part they identify strongly with its traditional culture. Several of the traditional ceremonies such as the omersurch birth ceremony, ocheraol first house ceremony, and kemeldiil funeral services are widely practiced and the codes and beliefs adopted by Palagüitas ancestors are still revered today.

Probably the most remarkable aspect of Palau culture is the people’s connection to the sea. Traditionally, it is the family’s duty to go to sea to harvest fish and battle enemy villages. As the sea was the source of their livelihoods, his men developed a close relationship with the waters of the Palau, becoming versant in the currents and phases of the Moon and the behavior of the fish they tried to put on the table.

The women generally stayed on land or along the shallow reefs surrounding the islands, rather than fighting in the open sea, providing the base for the family. Their days were largely spent tending to their homes, family, and fields where they grew taro.

The Palagüitas villages were and still are, around 10 clans counted from centuries. A Council of Chiefs of the 10 clans governs the village, and a parallel Council of their female counterparts held a significant advisory role in dividing and controlling land and money.

They are a very sociable people. Traditionally, history, tradition and knowledge is passed down through the generations orally as no written language was until the late 19th century. They still practice that traditional method, and at the end of the day, you can often find spotlights where they tell the fascinating stories of the more recent past.

Religion

About two-thirds of the population are Christians (mainly Catholic and Seventh-day Adventists), but the Modekngei (a combination of Christianity, traditional Palauan religions, and fortune-tellers) and the ancient Palauan religion are still the most common religions.

Celebrations

• January 1 (New Years)
• March 15 (Youth Day)
• May 5 (Citizen’s Day)
• June 1 (President’s Day)
• July 9 (Constitution Day)
• First Monday in September (Labor Day)
• October 1 (Independence Day)
• October 24 (United Nations Day)
• Last Thursday of November (Thanksgiving Day)
• December 25 (Christmas)