David Ramarui (1925 – 7 April 1984) was a

Palau Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island country in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania in the western Pacific Ocean. The Republic of Palau consists of approximately 340 islands and is the western part of the Caroline Islands ...

an politician. He served as a member of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

of the

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. The Imperial Japanese South Seas Mandate had been seized by the U.S. during the Pacifi ...

(TTPI) prior to Palau separating from the territory, and then as Minister of Social Services in the Palauan government.

Biography

Ramarui was born in

Ngchesar Ngchesar, also known as Oldiais, is one of the sixteen states of the nation of Palau in Oceania. History The terraces in the village of Ngerngesang are examples of archaeological sites in the area, through radiocarbon dating, are believed to da ...

in 1925 into a large family, one of eleven siblings.David Ramaui
''Micronesian Reporter'', July–August 1958 He was educated at the Mokko Gakko school during the

South Seas Mandate The South Seas Mandate, officially the Mandate for the German Possessions in the Pacific Ocean Lying North of the Equator, was a League of Nations mandate in the " South Seas" given to the Empire of Japan by the League of Nations following W ...

era,David Ramraui
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', August 1984, p73 before attending the Marianas Area Teacher Training College in

Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he began working as a teacher. He worked at the Palau Islands Intermediate School in Palau and remained involved in education for the remainder of his career. In 1953 he spent a year at the University of Hawaiʻi High School and then continued to the

University A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

. Having had to work part-time to pay for his course, in 1957 he received a fellowship to continue studying at the university, which he graduated from in June 1958. In the late 1950s he became a member of the Palau Congress, and was a delegate of the islands to the Inter-District Advisory Committee (later the Council of Micronesia), and was its Vice-Chairman from 1960 to 1963. In 1962 he became Education Administrator for Palau, a role he held until 1968.Interview: David Ramarui
''Micronesian Reporter'', First Quarter 1977 He contested the 1965 elections to the TTPI Senate, losing to

Roman Tmetuchl Roman Tmetuchl (February 11, 1926 – July 1, 1999) was a Palauan political leader and businessman. He grew up in Japanese settlement in Palau, Japanese-controlled Palau and joined the Kempeitai, the Japanese secret police, during World War II. ...

. However, he defeated Tmetuchl in the 1966 elections. He served as a Senator until the 1970 elections. In 1971 he was appointed Deputy Director of Education of the TTPI, and two years later became Director. After Palau separated from the Trust Territory, Ramarui ran for the presidency in the 1980 elections, finishing last in a field of five candidates. He was appointed Minister of Social Services in October 1982,1982 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
p13 a role he held until his death in

Koror Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island (also ''Oreor Island''). It is Palau’s most populous state. History In the oral tradition of ...

in April 1984. He was given a state funeral.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramarui, David 1925 births 1984 deaths 20th-century Palauan politicians People from Ngchesar Palauan educators University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumni Members of the Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Palauan civil servants Social affairs ministers of Palau