Senate President Chin attends the 2014 Yap Homecoming Festival. Posted by: Adora Nobuo 2014 Homecoming Festival Theme: “Celebrating the legend and the legacy of Captain David Dean O’keefe Speech by: Senate President Camsek Elias Chin Alii and good afternoon everyone. It is with great pleasure that I am here speaking on behalf of the Palauan Delegation. At this time, I would like to recognize the Leadership of Yap State: The Honorable Sebastian Anefal, Governor of Yap State; the Honorable Tony Tareg, Lt. Governor of Yap State; the Honorable Henry Falan, Speaker of the Yap State Legislature and the members of the Yap State Legislature; Chief Justice Cyprian Manmaw and former President of FSM and currently a congressman, Joseph Urusmal. I take this opportunity to also recognize the Yap State Traditional Leaders. From the Palau Delegation that came to celebrate the 2014 Homecoming Festival with the Yapese, I acknowledge the head of delegation, High Chief Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons, the Koror State Traditional Leaders and Minister Charles Obichang of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industries & Commerce as well as the member of Palau Visitor’s Authority (PVA). I want to begin by thanking Governor Sebastian Anefal and the Yap State community who have welcomed all of us, especially the Palau Delegation with open arms and making our stay here most comfortable and a memorable one. Having said this, it is clear that our two nations, Yap and Palau, have a very strong bond that goes way back. First, with Yap being the closest neighboring state of the Federated State of Micronesia to Palau, it is evident that we are more like a family. Second, history indicates that the balang (Yap stone money) was carved and chiseled from a specific limestone rock found in Palau and brought to Yap way back by the Yapese ancestors. And so it is only fair to say that our ties going back beyond the 1800’s are strong, even today. This bond was strengthened by none other than Captain David O’Keefe, who reinforced the link between Palau and Yap through his trading. Captain O’Keefe, who was a great man, also attached great importance to the relationship between Palau and Yap, which we have kept going throughout the century, and that is why this homecoming festival is all the more special. So it is an honor for the Palau Delegation, especially myself, to be here and meet the great grand daughter of Captain O’Keefe, Mrs. Victorine O’Keefe Heuvelman. And so on behalf of all Palauans here and the Yapese, we want to express our gratitude and thankfulness to a great man, Captain O’Keefe, who made it possible for Yap and Palau to become strong allies that still exists to this day. Speaker Falan, as you know, it is my first time to actually visit Yap and I want to thank you for giving us a tour of the State of Yap and meeting the Yapese people yesterday. Yap is so beautiful, with so much history and traditions tied-in together. Mr. Speaker, I also had the opportunity to meet with Palauans who have made Yap their home and I was informed that a piece of property was given to them by the Yapese to build a Palauan meeting house. Governor Anefal, I want to thank the leadership of Yap, the Yap State Legislature and the traditional leaders of Yap, and actually all the people of Yap, in making the Palauans here feel so at home. And I say “feel so at home” because I asked them during a discussion meeting with them a couple of days ago if anyone wanted to come back home to Palau and not one showed interest in returning to Palau, insisting that Yap is their home. And so I see our connection and relationship continuing to grow stronger. After all, my classmate and good friend Dr. Robert Paul is married to a Yapese and there is no way to bring him back to Palau. He is totally 100% Yapese now. Again, I congratulate and thank you Governor Sebastian Anefal, Speaker Henry Falan, the Yap Traditional Leaders, Yap Visitors Bureau, Yap Chamber of Commerce, presenters, performers, and everyone involved in the planning, for including Palau in this 4th Homecoming Festival! Your hard work is appreciated and recognized for producing such a splendid event. The Palau Delegation had a great time here, and we will continue participating in the upcoming Homecoming Festivals as long as the Tamil and Rumuu Dancers keep performing. Thank you and Kamagar!
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 05:56:34 +0000
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