ProFiles

Making the case for economic progress
By Maureen N. Maratita, reporting from KOROR, Palau
 

Date of Birth: July 22, 1946 Education: 1969 bachelor’s in political science from the University of Colorado; 1972 juris doctorate, and 1973 master of laws in Law of the Sea from the University of Washington Law School. Bar memberships: Washington state, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Notable posts: Trapp, Gayle, Teker, Weeks & Friedman law firm, Guam, 1973 to 1974; partner at Guerrero, Coughlin and Toribiong law firm, Guam, 1974; legislative counsel to 5th Palau District Legislature and Yap District Legislature, 1974 to 1975; floor leader of the 6th Palau District Legislature and legal counsel to the Palau Future Political Status Commission, 1975 to 1979; chairman of the Palau Public Lands Authority, 1977 to 1979; floor leader of the Senate of the 1st Olbiil Era Kelulau or Palau National Congress, 1981 to 1984; partner in Toribiong & Coughlin law firm and sole practitioner from 1999 until assuming the presidency; President, Palau Chamber of Commerce, 2001 to 2005; ambassador to the Republic of China – Taiwan, 2001 until assuming the presidency; president of the Belau Baseball Federation, 2004 until assuming the presidency; 1st vice president of the Baseball Federation of Oceania, 2005 until assuming the presidency. Chief Ngiraked [traditional title bearer] of Airai State, from 1999 until assuming the presidency.

Members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau agree with President Johnson Toribiong that Palau’s foreign investment legislation needs to be changed, but they differ on just how to accomplish that. The result was that neither the president’s bill nor that of the Senate passed into law during 2009. He says that change to the foreign investment legislation will not come easily in Palau. “It’s going to be a bumpy journey.”

Toribiong says he has learned to live with the process of debate on such issues. “I used to try to move and push too hard. I got too stressed out. I have learned to be patient and to relax.”

Both he and the Congress wish to offer economic opportunity, he says. “My goals and the goals of the OEK are the same. I try to be as co-operative as possible, to understand their issues first and to work with them.”

Still, that understanding, he says, goes against his years of experience as an attorney and as a sports enthusiast. “I learned something from law and from sport. You don’t compromise. … In law, there’s only one trial.”

However, he says, progress must come from foreign investment. “Economics is like genetics – interbreeding results in a deformed child. You have to bring outside blood in – new money.” Toribiong says he understands the trepidation of Palauans at that prospect. “There is that sense of uncertainty, that we will be invaded by foreigners.”

Toribiong has also had to consider legislation to allow casinos to operate in Palau. While the president says, “I follow my conscience and my policy,” he also has thought about the long-term effects of gaming, and weighs the different sides of the debate.

On the one hand, he says, the argument is, “Let’s keep religion and spiritual values out of our economy. We need money.” However, he says, “At the back of my mind, will I be the first one to shatter the innocence of Palau? At the end of the day,” he says, there is the consideration, “Will it bring happiness, is it wholesome?”

In the end, he came down against the measure. “We have 80,000 tourists at best. I don’t want Palauans to think that will save our economy. I’m skeptical. There’s so much excitement about the proponents – that it’s an economic panacea,” he says.

When he has the opportunity, Toribiong says he reads a lot. “I read Obama’s books.” A book that affected him profoundly, he says, was “With the Old Breed: At Peliliu and Okinawa,” by Eugene B. Sledge. “I couldn’t sleep at night. This book is one of the best of the experience that a combatant goes through.”

Reading Sledge’s experience with the 1st Marine Division in the region, particularly at the battle of Peleliu, underlined the president’s policy, which he says “is to repatriate all the remains of Japanese soldiers [in Peleliu] to Japan,” with the help of Japanese experts. “They’re going to come with their anthropologists and forensic experts,” he says. Also, Toribiong says, “I did organize the first commemoration of the U.S. Memorial Day in Peleliu.” That event was attended by Palauan dignitaries and veterans as well as U.S. representatives.

The president says he has made time to relax to counter the pressures of office.” I make it a point to go out on Wednesdays and spearfish.” Toribiong says he likes to take his grandson and grandson’s friends along. “He’s nine. After lunch we barbecue what we catch and eat taro and come home. On Sunday, it’s the same thing.”

Speaking with Guam Business in August, he says, “After six months I’ve established my rhythm. I’m in my groove now. “