Permanent Resident recipients from the Pa Enua recited the Oath of Allegiance to the Cook Islands by zoom in the presence of His Excellence Sir Tom Marsters Queens Representative, was no less emotional than that held here in Rarotonga last week. Recipients from Pukapuka (3), Palmerston (2), Mangaia (1) and Aitutaki (1) all recited the Oath Island by Island from their respective Island administration offices with families and friends present.
“You could almost feel the excitement and emotions come through the screen” Phillip Metuariki, Immigration Officer and coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Permanent Resident process.
The occasion started with a prayer from Papa Manila from Pukapuka, welcome address from the Principal Immigration Officer Kairangi Samuela and the recipients being invited to recite the Oath by island. Sir Tom Marsters in his address and congratulations to the recipients acknowledged the honour and privilege that the new Permanent Residents had been given and recognised their contribution to the Pa Enua.
One of the recipients from Kiribati, Karanga Ukeria has been teaching on the island of Pukapuka for the last 15 years, all email correspondence had been done in the Pukapukan language. Principal Immigration Officer, Kairangi Samuela said “This is evidence that she is completely immersed in the culture and customs of Pukapuka”.
“We are pleased to use modern technology to bring us together in this process” Secretary of MFAI, Tepaeru Herrmann. She continued to say ”I am sure there will be lots of celebrating on the individual islands for this occasion”.
The names of those who have been approved PR can be found on the MFAI website www.mfai.gov.ck.
All queries to this press release can be submitted to contact us.
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