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First Lady of Palau

First Lady of Palau
Flag of Palau
Incumbent Valerie Whipps since 21 January 2021
Inaugural holder	Regina Remeliik
Formation	2 March 1981

First Lady of Palau is the official title attributed to the wife of the president of Palau. The country's current first lady is Valerie Whipps, wife of President Surangel Whipps Jr., who had held the position since 21 January 2021.

First ladies of Palau[edit]

Name	Portrait	Term Began	Term Ended	President	Notes
Regina Namiko Remeliik[1]		2 March 1981	30 June 1985	Haruo Remeliik	Born Regina Blaires, she worked a nurse and teacher before becoming the inaugural First Lady of Palau.[1][2][3] President Remeliik was assassinated on June 30, 1985.[1]
Ferista Esang Remengesau		30 June 1985	2 July 1985	Thomas Remengesau Sr.	Served as First Lady during both her husband's short tenures. Esang Remengesau was also the mother of President Tommy Remengesau.[4]
Josepha Oiterong		2 July 1985	25 October 1985	Alfonso Oiterong	[5][6]
Christina Salii		25 October 1985	20 August 1988	Lazarus Salii	Known as Tina Salii, she was First Lady from 1985 until President Salii's death in office in 1988.[7] In 2007, Salii was named Dilbuked of Ngerchedok Clan of Ngebuked village in Ngaraard state, the counterpart to the traditional male chiefs.[8] Salii and the late president are the parents of Kathleen M. Salii, the first female Palauan justice of the Supreme Court of Palau.[9]
Ferista Esang Remengesau		20 August 1988	1 January 1989	Thomas Remengesau Sr.	Ferista Esang Remengesau's second tenure as First Lady of Palau.[4]
?		1 January 1989	1 January 1993	Ngiratkel Etpison
Elong Nakamura		1 January 1993	1 January 2001	Kuniwo Nakamura	Former First Lady Elong Ebiledil Nakamura died on November 17, 2018, at the age of 74.[10][11]
Debbie Remengesau		1 January 2001	15 January 2009	Tommy Remengesau Jr.	Remengesau's first tenure as first lady.
Valeria Toribiong		15 January 2009	17 January 2013	Johnson Toribiong
Debbie Remengesau		17 January 2013	21 January 2021	Tommy Remengesau Jr.	Second tenure as first lady, beginning in January 2013 and sister-in-law of Valerie Whipps.
Valerie Whipps		21 January 2021	Present	Surangel Whipps Jr.	The Sister of Former President.Tommy Remengesau Jr.

References[edit]