Vice Speaker and Delegate of Angaur State, Mario S. Gulibert is the son of Chief
Ucherbelau Masao and Haruko Gulibert, both natives of Angaur State. He graduated
from Angaur Elementary School and went on to complete his secondary education at
Mindszenty High School. In pursuit of higher education, Vice Speaker Gulibert earned an
Associate of Arts degree with emphasis in Pre-Law from the College of Southern Idaho.
He was later accepted to Boise State University (BSU), where he earned his Bachelor of
Arts degree in Political Science, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
While attending BSU, Delegate Gulibert was active in sports, participating in intramural
basketball competitions as part of an American Indian basketball team. He also
represented the Micronesian students in amateur boxing competitions held annually.
Delegate Gulibert, representing the State of Angaur, located south of Koror and Peleliu,
outside of the barrier reef surrounding the thirteen states of Babeldaob and Iouldaob, was
elected to serve his first term in the House of Delegates, Third Olbiil Era Kelulau from
1989 to 1992. During this term, he chaired the House Committee on Capital
Improvement Projects and served as a member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs;
Resources and Development; Tourism and Transportation; and Claim and Trade
Relations with the Former Colonizers.
He was re-elected to serve his second term in the Fourth Olbiil Era Kelulau from 1993 to
1996, during which he chaired the House Committee on Judiciary and Law Enforcement
and was a member of several other committees.
Delegate Gulibert was again re-elected to serve his third term in the Fifth Olbiil Era
Kelulau from 1996 to 2000, during which his colleagues appointed him as one of the
Presiding Officers, serving as Floor Leader.
His fourth term in the Sixth Olbiil Era Kelulau from 2001 to 2004 saw him appointed as
Speaker of the House of Delegates by his fellow members. Following his re-election to
the Seventh Olbiil Era Kelulau in 2004, he served as Chairman of the Committee on
Ways and Means beginning in April 2007.
In the 2012 National General Election, with term limitations lifted, the people of Angaur
State once again elected him to represent them in the Ninth Olbiil Era Kelulau, where he
was appointed as Floor Leader, one of the Presiding Officers of the House.
Delegate Gulibert was re-elected to serve in the Tenth Olbiil Era Kelulau. He was
appointed as Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign and Domestic Affairs, Vice
Chairman of the Committee on Health, Social and Cultural Affairs, and a member of the
House Committees on:
- Education and Youth Affairs
- Energy, Communication and Transportation
- Judiciary, Governmental Affairs and Human Rights
- Public Works, Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Projects
- Tourism and Aviation
- Ways and Means
Delegate Gulibert was re-elected once more to serve in the Eleventh Olbiil Era Kelulau.
He was again appointed as Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign and Domestic
Affairs, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Health, Social and Cultural Affairs, and
continued serving as a member on several House committees, including:
- Education and Youth Affairs
- Energy, Communication and Transportation
- Judiciary, Governmental Affairs and Human Rights
- Public Works, Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Projects
- Tourism and Aviation
- Ways and Means
Delegate Gulibert is currently serving his ninth term, making him the longest-serving
Member in the history of the Palau National Congress.
On January 16, 2025, following the National General Election in November 2024,
Delegate Gulibert was selected by his colleagues during the Installation Session to serve
as the Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates, Twelfth Olbiil Era Kelulau.
Prior to his national political career, Delegate Gulibert taught Comparative Government
part-time at the former Micronesian Occupational College (now Palau Community
College) from 1986 to 1987. He was elected as a member of the Angaur Constitutional
Convention in 1982, where he served as Chairman of the Governmental Organizing
Committee. He served as Chief of the Division of Public Affairs from 1981 to 1988.
Additionally, he served as Acting Director of the Bureau of Domestic Affairs. During this
time, he also served as Palau Election Commissioner, assisting states in their transition
from municipal to state constitutional governments, including conducting all National
Elections and referenda on the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the
United States of America.