According to ehistorylib, in 2005, Palau had an estimated population of 21,000 people with a population growth rate of 1.3%. The economy in 2005 was largely based on tourism and fishing, with major exports including canned tuna and marine products. Foreign relations in 2005 were mainly focused on maintaining strong ties to neighboring countries while also participating in international organizations such as the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum. The politics of Palau in 2005 were dominated by President Tommy Remengesau Jr., who had been elected to office in 2001 after a general election which was considered by international observers to be generally free and fair. Remengesau’s government implemented major economic reforms aimed at improving living standards for all citizens as well as encouraging foreign investment. Despite this, the country was facing significant issues related to poverty and inequality that needed to be addressed.
Yearbook 2005
Palau. In September, President Tommy Remengesau asked the House of Representatives to create a commission to review the Compact of Free Association agreement with the United States. Under the agreement, the United States manages Palau’s defense and provides the country with extensive assistance. According to countryaah, Melekeok is the capital and one of the major cities within the country of Palau. The United States, in turn, has the right to establish military bases in Palau. The current agreement is valid until 2009, but Remengesau emphasized that it needs to be reviewed before then.
- Also see abbreviationfinder.org for how the acronym PW stands for the country of Palau and other meanings of this two-letter abbreviation.
Earlier in 2005, a Constituent Assembly with 25 members was elected to decide on proposed constitutional amendments. One of the proposals, from individual members of Congress, was to replace Palau’s US-inspired political system with a parliamentary system similar to the British one. In addition, it was proposed that the legislative power should be a single-chamber parliament instead of the current one with two chambers. After reviewing the proposals, the Constituent Assembly would propose possible amendments to the Constitution. All proposals must then be approved by a majority of voters in connection with the 2008 presidential election.
Dictionary of History
Palau Island state of Oceania, in Micronesia. German protectorate since 1885, Palau was occupied by Japan in 1914 and annexed in 1935; in trusteeship in 1947 to the USA, in 1994 it was admitted to the UN as a “sovereign state freely associated with the United States”. President of the Republic from 1999 to 2000 was K. Nakamura, who was succeeded by TE Remengesau, reconfirmed in 2004, who tackled the problem of reducing dependence on US aid. In 2008, J. Toribiong took over.
