Roman Tmetuchl
Encyclopedia
Roman Tmetuchl was a Palau
political leader and businessman. During World War II
, he was recruited to work for the Kempeitai
, the Empire of Japan
's military police. He later served in the Congress of Micronesia
, and went into business, through which he amassed a fortune of US$
35 million. He later served as Palau's chief negotiator on the discussions regarding the Compact of Free Association
. He ran for president of Palau
in the 1988 elections
, the final elections conducted under a plurality voting system
. He received 26% of the vote, or just 31 votes fewer than the winning candidate Ngiratkel Etpison
; the near-tie led elections in Palau
to be reformed, and after that they were conducted under majority
voting, with a second round
if no candidate received more than half of all votes cast.
Palau International Airport
was renamed as the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in his honor in a resolution by the Senate of Palau
proposed by senators Reklai, Koshiba, Seid, Diaz, and Dengokl on April 11, 2006 and later passed on May 4 of the same year. The resolution stated that "The Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is a fitting name for Palau's international airport due to Mr. Tmetuchl's numerous years of valuable services he provided to the Republic and for the assistance he provided in developing the airport."
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
political leader and businessman. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was recruited to work for the Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
, the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
's military police. He later served in the Congress of Micronesia
Congress of Micronesia
The Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia has 14 non-partisan members, 10 members elected for a two year term in single-seat constituencies and 4 members elected for a four year term by proportional representation.-Speakers of the Congress:...
, and went into business, through which he amassed a fortune of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
35 million. He later served as Palau's chief negotiator on the discussions regarding the Compact of Free Association
Compact of Free Association
The Compact of Free Association defines the relationship that three sovereign states—the Federated States of Micronesia , the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau—have entered into as associated states with the United States.Now sovereign nations, the three freely associated...
. He ran for president of Palau
President of Palau
-List of Presidents of Palau:-Latest election:-See also:*Vice-President of Palau*High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands...
in the 1988 elections
Palauan general election, 1988
General elections were held in Palau on 2 November 1988 to elect a President, Vice-President, Senate and House of Delegates. All candidates ran as independents. Ngiratkel Etpison was elected President, whilst Kuniwo Nakamura won the election for Vice-President. Voter turnout was...
, the final elections conducted under a plurality voting system
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
. He received 26% of the vote, or just 31 votes fewer than the winning candidate Ngiratkel Etpison
Ngiratkel Etpison
Ngiratkel Etpison was a politician from Palau. He was elected the country's president in the 1988 elections, the final elections conducted under a plurality voting system, in which he received just 26% of the votes cast, defeating opponent Roman Tmetuchl by a margin of 31 votes...
; the near-tie led elections in Palau
Elections in Palau
On a national level, the citizens of Palau elect a president, who serves a four-year term, and acts as head of state. A national bicameral legislature, is also elected, consisting of the Palau National Congress and the Senate of Palau. The National Congress has 16 members, each serving four-year...
to be reformed, and after that they were conducted under majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
voting, with a second round
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
if no candidate received more than half of all votes cast.
Palau International Airport
Palau International Airport
Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is the main airport of Palau. It is located just north of Airai on Babelthuap island. The airport is 6 miles from Koror and 15 miles from Melekeok....
was renamed as the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in his honor in a resolution by the Senate of Palau
Senate of Palau
The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress . The Senate has 9 members serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. In the elections held on 2 November 2004 only non-partisans were elected. No political parties exist.-Presidents of the Senate:...
proposed by senators Reklai, Koshiba, Seid, Diaz, and Dengokl on April 11, 2006 and later passed on May 4 of the same year. The resolution stated that "The Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is a fitting name for Palau's international airport due to Mr. Tmetuchl's numerous years of valuable services he provided to the Republic and for the assistance he provided in developing the airport."
External links
- Photograph, 1956 at the Trust Territory of the Pacific Archives, hosted by the University of HawaiiUniversity of HawaiiThe University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
- Photograph, c. 1970 at the Trust Territory of the Pacific Archives, hosted by the University of HawaiiUniversity of HawaiiThe University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...