David Ramarui (1925 – 7 April 1984) was a

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

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. History Spain initially claimed the islands that later composed the territory of the Trus ...

(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 Wo ...

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

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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 Hawaii A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

High School and then continued to university. 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 The following elections occurred in the year 1980. Africa * 1980 Angolan legislative election * 1980 Cameroonian presidential election * 1980 Cape Verdean parliamentary election * 1980 Gabonese legislative election * 1980 Guinean legislative ...

, 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 ...

in April 1984. He was given a state funeral.

References

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