Emais Roberts is a Palauan politician and physician who has served as

Governor of Peleliu A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...

since 2022. He previously served as the country's Minister of Health from 2017 to 2021 and led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Palau.

Early life and career

Roberts received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Hawaiʻi. His surgical residency took place at the University of Hawaiʻi and University of California, Davis. He served as Chief Resident Surgeon at Queen's Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center and Kaiser Medical Center in Hawaii. Roberts is also a member of the Belau Medical Society, in addition to being a fellow of the

American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913.American College of Surgeons Online "What is the American College of Surgeons?"/ref> See also *American College of Physicians The American College o ...

. Robers has served as a member of the

Palau Community College Palau Community College is a public community college in the Republic of Palau. It is the only higher education institution in the nation. It is an independent institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and offers a ...

Board of Trustees, Palau Medical Licensure Board and Palau Medical Referral Committee. He owns and runs a private medical clinic called the Family Surgical Clinic.

Political career

On January 23, 2017, he was nominated as Minister of Health, becoming the first nominee for a ministerial position in President Thomas Remengesau Jr.'s 10th government cabinet. He was sworn in as Minister of Health on February 2, 2017. On June 6, 2017, Roberts visited Taipei in which he said he would continue to support Taiwan's bid to attend the World Health Assembly. In July 2019, Roberts gave a speech at the first Climate and Health Ministers' Meeting in

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

in which he highlighted the effects of climate change on human health especially the effects on Small Island Developing States such as Palau. Beginning in January 2021, he administered the country's COVID-19 vaccination program, with Roberts and president-elect

Surangel Whipps Jr. Surangel S. Whipps Jr. (born 9 August 1968) is a Palauan businessman and politician, who has served as the president of Palau since 2021. He served as senator from 2008 to 2016. He is from Ngatpang state, Republic of Palau. Whipps assumed office a ...

being two of the first to receive the dose of the vaccine in the country. In April 2021, a

travel bubble During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and regions imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other travel restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas. Some countries and regions imposed global restrictions th ...

was set up between Palau and Taiwan though by May 2021 Roberts stated that the travel bubble had become a "mute issue" due to new travel restrictions introduced between the countries as a result of Taiwan's rising COVID-19 cases. He was succeeded as health minister by Gaafar Ucherbelau. In May 2021, Roberts stated in an interview with the ''

Island Times An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

'' that he was running as a candidate for

in the December 2021 election; incumbent governor Temmy Shmull was no longer eligible, having reached the term limit. He stated that he had agreed to run after being petitioned by the village chiefs and the people of Peleliu. Governor Shmull endorsed him saying that he "has built a house here and loves to spend time here". Unofficial results from an election poll showed him in the lead with 312 votes ahead of former governor Jackson Ngiraingas who received 174 votes. He won the election and was sworn in as governor on January 1, 2022. On September 15, 2022, Roberts commemorated the state's inaugural veterans day by re-opening the Bloody Nose Ridge Monument access trail and acknowledging the United States Marines for their work on projects in the state such as repairing the monument.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Emais 21st-century Palauan politicians 21st-century surgeons Fellows of the American College of Surgeons Governors of Peleliu Health ministers of Palau Living people Palauan surgeons University of California, Davis alumni University of Hawaiʻi alumni Year of birth missing (living people)