This intervention was made during a UNDP Multi Country Programme Document Mid-Term Review at the UNDP Office in Suva, Fiji on May 14, 2025 while Shelley Remengesau and I accompanied Ms. Villaney Remengesau.
I share this a week after her successful election to the Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The fight never ends, but we can take a moment to acknowledge this win. Kudos to you.
The Scene: The review started half an hour late and when we walked in while Lany was being pushed in, the Palau flag was missing and they were wheeling Lany behind conference room chairs through a very narrow space to the end of the room with no easy access to exit. As the most senior official among us, I had to say something. So this is what I said.....
"I was sitting here debating whether we should stay at this meeting or not. We are the only delegation with a person with a different ability who was pushed through a narrow hall to the end of the room, scanning all the beautiful table flags to see where our flag was. Despite starting half an hour late, there was no visible Palau flag on the table. I am sure we have all had our experiences, walking into a room and not finding your place at the table.
Across different fora, we as the Pacific fight to have a seat at the table, to have a voice and to have a presence , because we believe we matter, and we do.
In those instances where we look for a spot in a plance that does not traditionally welcome you, the question becomes, if we do not take a spot, what will we be depriving from our people. And so we navigate the UNCOMFORTABLE, we LOOK OUT OF PLACE, and hope that it does not appear as pity to accommodate us.
I was also debating whether I should just brush this off as an administrative mishap or if I should say something. But it would be remiss of me not to at least mention that this is UNACCEPTABLE. Not because it's us, Palau, that did not have our flag set up, but because if we are talking about inclusion and unity, we cannot forget our "neighbors". The irony in what Lany mentioned about getting to know your neighbors first before going global, was the neighbor Palau had no place and no voice --- by not being given a place at the table and when placed at the end of the table, had no mic, while everyone else did.
While I had more to share on planet, peace, and prosperity -- instead, I want to highlight that all our efforts are POINTLESS if we forget the most important P - PEOPLE. The other discussions can be had over email and zoom calls, but while we are here, let's all renew our commitment to people and equally to inclusion with equity. So like our travel here that took us on an unplanned tour of Micronesia, we pivot, and say what needs to be said, hoping it's intent is communicated through -- so we can all improve.
We look forward to working with you all and UNDP to on operationalizing these important pillars on the ground in Palau and elsewhere."
Congratulations, Lany. You continue the fight to make the path easier way for many others that will follow. I see you. I support you just as you see all of us and support us. #silenceisnotanoption
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