Overview:
Portia Franz-Kesolei takes over as chair of the House of Delegates’ Ways and Means Committee as Palau’s lower house reorganizes its 15 committees following a sudden leadership shake-up in early October. The new lineup also reflects Mario Gulibert’s elevation to speaker and Noah Kemesong’s appointment as floor leader, alongside major changes in committee leadership and delegate assignments.
Franz-Kesolei takes Ways and Means chair
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (Oct. 20, 2026) — The Palau House of Delegates has reorganized its committee leadership and membership following a sudden change in the chamber’s leadership earlier this month, with former Vice Speaker Mario S. Gulibert now serving as speaker and Noah Kemesong replacing Warren Umetaro as floor leader.
The new organizational chart, approved Oct. 20, retains the same 15 committees but changes several chairperson and vice chairperson assignments, redistributes committee memberships and reshapes the responsibilities of individual delegates.
The changes extend beyond the chamber’s presiding officers, affecting leadership of key committees responsible for government spending, natural resources, foreign affairs, commerce, housing and other public policy areas.
Major changes in committee leadership
One of the most significant changes is in the Committee on Ways and Means and Financial Matters, where Portia Franz-Kesolei replaces Mengkur Rechelulk as chairperson. Sinsak, the new vice speaker, becomes vice chairperson.
Rechelulk, who chaired the committee under the earlier organizational structure, now chairs the Committee on Banking and Insurance, with J. Blesoch Aderkeroi as vice chairperson.
The changes redistribute leadership of two committees dealing with government finances and economic matters.
In the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs, Ellender Ngirameketii replaces Yutaka Gibbons Jr. as chairperson, while Kemesong becomes vice chairperson.
Kemesong also takes over as chairperson of the Committee on Foreign and Domestic Affairs, replacing Gulibert. Rebecca Sebalt-Ngirmechaet becomes vice chairperson of that committee, replacing Umetaro.
The Committee on Natural Resources and Environment also gets new leadership. Nace Soalablai replaces Silverius Ouch Tellei as chairperson, while Ngirameketii becomes vice chairperson.
Tellei continues to chair the Committee on Immigration, Labor and Human Rights.
In the Committee on Commerce and Trade, Kanai, the former speaker, is now listed as chairperson. Ngirameketii becomes vice chairperson, replacing Rechelulk.
The Committee on Housing Development also changes leadership. Umetaro, the former floor leader, replaces Franz as chairperson, while Tellei becomes vice chairperson.
Committee assignments redistributed
The new roster also changes the distribution of committee assignments among delegates.
Under the earlier organizational chart, Rechelulk appeared in 14 committee rosters, the highest number among delegates. The October roster shows four assignments under Rechelulk’s name.
Ngirameketii and Soalablai now have the highest number of committee assignments, with 11 each. Kemesong and Tellei each appear in 10 committee rosters.
The new chart gives several delegates additional committee responsibilities while reducing assignments for others.
Ngirameketii, for example, now chairs Judiciary and Governmental Affairs and serves as vice chairperson of Commerce and Trade and Natural Resources and Environment.
Kemesong chairs Foreign and Domestic Affairs and serves as vice chairperson of Judiciary and Governmental Affairs. He is also listed as a member of several other committees.
Sinsak holds the vice speakership while serving as vice chairperson of Ways and Means and Financial Matters, Maritime, Climate Change and Protected Areas Network, and Energy, Public Utilities and CIP. He also chairs Communication, Cybersecurity and Technology.
The changes give several delegates leadership responsibilities across multiple policy areas.
Changes in committee responsibilities
The reorganization also changes the names and scope of several committees.
The former Committee on Education, Youth and Sports is now the Committee on Youth and Sports Development, with Stephanie Ngirchoimei continuing as chairperson.
Education is now included in a separate Committee on Education and Community Planning, chaired by Gibbons, with Soalablai as vice chairperson. The earlier structure had separate committees for Education, Youth and Sports and Community Planning and Development.
The former Committee on CIP, Energy, Communications and Public Utilities is now called the Committee on Energy, Public Utilities and CIP. A separate Committee on Communication, Cybersecurity and Technology retains responsibility for communications and technology-related matters.
Sinsak chairs the latter committee, with Sebastian R. Marino as vice chairperson.
The Committee on Tourism, Aviation and Financial Matters is now the Committee on Tourism, Aviation and Transportation. Sebalt-Ngirmechaet becomes chairperson, with Marino as vice chairperson.
The Committee on Maritime, Climate Change and Protected Areas Network retains Marino as chairperson, while Sinsak becomes vice chairperson.
Francisca R. Otong continues as chairperson of the Committee on Health, Social and Cultural Affairs, with Franz-Kesolei as vice chairperson.
All 15 committees retained
Despite the changes in committee names, leadership and membership, the House has retained 15 committees in the new organizational chart.
Each committee has a designated chairperson, and all delegates are assigned to committees, with some serving in multiple leadership positions.
The new structure distributes chairperson positions among the chamber’s members rather than concentrating them in a small number of delegates. It also preserves the House’s existing committee count while changing how several policy areas are organized.
The organizational chart establishes the chamber’s formal leadership and committee assignments. It does not, by itself, explain the reasons for the leadership changes or establish how the reorganization will affect committee performance or legislative priorities.
The new chart was approved Oct. 20, 2026, under Speaker Mario S. Gulibert.