パラオのナカムラ元大統領が、人口減少と人口に占める外国人の比率が増加していることに警鐘を鳴らした。
パラオの人口17,000人。その内パラオ人が12,000人強、外国人が4,000人強。外国人の割合は27％である。
ナカムラ元大統領はこのままではパラオはパラオ人のものでなくなる。なぜ人口が減少しているのか、大統領、政治家は早急な対応が必要である、と訴えた。
パラオは太平洋島嶼国の中でGDPが一番高いが、格差も一番大きい。
全体的に太平洋島嶼国は人口増加で、特に開発が進まない離島からの都市部への移民問題で悩んでいるが、人口減少が起こっているのは、他にクック諸島やニウエなど、ニュージーランドと自由連合協定を締結する国である。
海洋問題や気候変動の環境問題ばかりに関心が（即ちお金が）集まるが、教育、医療、福祉の人々の生活支援が疎かになってはいないだろうか？
(ISLAND TIMES) - Declining Palauan Population Alarming Says Nakamura
byAdmin July 14, 2017
http://islandtimes.us/declining-palauan-population-alarming-says-nakamura/
(ISLAND TIMES) - Declining Palauan Population Alarming Says Nakamura
byAdmin July 14, 2017 Top Stories
By: L.N. Reklai
July 11, 2017 (Ngerulmud, Palau) Former President Kuniwo Nakamura said that the most alarming issue Palau faces is its declining population. In his address to the Senators at the opening day of the Third Regular Session of this 10th Congress, he stated that something must be done to stem the tide of Palau’s declining population.
“Find out why the population is declining, is it due to higher deaths and lower birth rate, is it out migration, is it limited job opportunities, is it low wages, whatever it is, do something about it,” stressed Nakamura.
Former President Nakamura, invited to address the Senate, was requested to address economic issues and give his recommendations.
Nakamura stated that policy is developed for people. He said that he was alarmed when he found out that the total population of people living in Palau is little over 17,000 and out of that 17,000, 12,000 plus are Palauans and the 4,000 plus were contract workers representing 27% of total population.
There is an obvious decline in population and if lawmakers, President and the rest of Palau leadership do not do anything to reverse this trend, Palauans will lose control of their country to foreigners.
“Once this canoe capsizes, can we bring it up again” stated Nakamura, referring to losing control of Palau to others.
He urged law makers to make policies that would help weakest Palauan, to create equal freedom for all so that it Palau can be attractive for our people to return to. He recommended a new and updated economic development plan that is comprehensive and takes into account all sectors of the community.
If nothing is done, than Palauans will surely lose control of their country to other nationalities.
