Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg

Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg is a Palauan curator and politician who has served as the State Minister of Palau since 2017. She was Director of Belau National Museum from 1979 to 2009.

Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg
State Minister of Palau
Assumed office
13 June 2017
Prime MinisterThomas Remengesau Jr.
Preceded byBilly Kuartei
Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs of Palau
In office
2009–2012
Personal details
Political partyIndependent
Alma materUniversity of Hawaiʻi

Career

Rehuher-Marugg holds a master's degree in Pacific Island Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi and the East-West Center.[1][2] She worked for as the Director and Curator of the Belau National Museum in Koror for thirty years between 1979 and 2009.[3] During her time as a curator, Rehuher-Marugg promoted Palauan culture to regional and international organisations including ICOMOS and UNESCO.[3] In addition to this, Rehuher-Marugg served in leadership roles in many Pacific cultural organisations, including the Pacific Islands Museums Association, the Pacific Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, as a co-founder of the Palau Conservation Society, the Palau Resources Institute, and the Palau Chamber of Commerce.[4][2]

In 2009, Rehuher-Marugg resigned from the Belau National Museum after being nominated to serve as the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs by President Johnson Toriblong; she was subsequently appointed to the role by a unanimous vote by the Senate of Palau.[3] During her term, Rehuher-Marugg was successful in getting the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5][6] Rehuher-Marugg left the role in 2012.[5] That same year, Rehuher-Marugg was recognised for her contributions to the promotion and development of the arts, culture and history of Palau by the Legislature of Guam.[2]

In June 2017, Rehuher-Marugg was elected to serve as the State Minister in the Cabinet of Thomas Remengesau Jr, replacing Billy Kuartei.[7] Remengesau commended her "wealth of experience in public service [and] the preservation of Palau's heritage and history".[7] She was sworn into office by Judge Rosemary Skebong.[8]

In 2018, Rehuher-Marugg was instrumental in securing a $60,000 grant from the Australian government to support Palau's eco-pledge initiative where all visitors promise to respect the environment.[9] The same year, she represented Palau at the Pacific Island Forum, held in Nauru, where climate crisis was the focus of the agenda.[10] In 2019, she led a delegation from Taiwan, including President Tsai Ing-wen.[11] In 2021 she negotiated a grant aid programme with Japan to the value of $4.8 million in order to enable the government of Palau to detect illegal shipping.[12]

References
  1. Pacific Media Network (15 February 2021). "Faustina Rehuher Marugg - Mironesian states withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum". Pacific Media Network. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  2. Won, Judith T. (2012). "I Mina'trentai Unu Na Liheslaturan Guåhan" (PDF). Guam Legislature Archives.
  3. "Faustina Rehuher-Marugg Appointed as Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs by ROP President". Belau National Museum - Ngesechel a Cherechar. 2009. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  4. "Directors and Founders – Palau Conservation Society". 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  5. Reklai, L. N. (26 May 2017). "Faustina Marugg appointed to Ministry of State". Island Times. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  6. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Rock Islands Southern Lagoon". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  7. Office of the President (14 June 2017). "Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg Swears in as Minister of State". Palau Gov. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  8. "Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg Sworn In As Palau Minister Of State | Pacific Islands Report". 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  9. "Australia's FM Julie Bishop presents US$60,000 for Palau Pledge Initiative". 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  10. "Australia relationship with Pacific on climate change 'dysfunctional' and 'abusive'". the Guardian. 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  11. "President Tsai meets delegation led by Palau Minister of State Faustina Rehuher-Marugg". 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  12. Island Times (2021-01-21). "Japan and Palau signed approx. $4.8 million Grant Aid Contract for the Improvement of Maritime Domain Awareness in Palau". Island Times. Retrieved 2021-10-01.


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