HILARY HOSIA
Jaluit Parliament Member Casten Nemra was appointed last Wednesday as Finance Minister by President David Kabua, replacing Nitijela Member Brenson Wase, who had been in the post for 20 months.
Casten accepted the President’s appointment and a swear-in ceremony was held at the Cabinet Conference Room last Friday. The swear-in was presided over by High Court Chief Justice Carl Ingram.
The swearing in was delayed due to paperwork requirements not being in place. The ceremony had been scheduled for 10am Friday, but Nitijela officials were reportedly not requested to officialize the appointment — as required by the RMI Constitution — until Thursday night, well after working hours were over, despite the appointment having been made Wednesday. The 10am ceremony was postponed to later in the afternoon to provide time to Speaker Kenneth Kedi’s office to produce the “instrument of appointment.”
“Usually these appointments come at critical times,” the new Minister of Finance said in brief remarks during the appointment ceremony.
President Kabua conveyed words of appreciation and thanked Nemra for returning to Cabinet. The President had removed Nemra as Foreign Minister in early 2022. The President said the switch in ministers was needed as is the practice in the work place.
Nemra said he understands that the Finance Ministry he once worked in during the mid-2000s has changed throughout the years and that he would do his best in the days ahead.
Casten’s wife, Terry Nemra, and members of Cabinet witnessed the ceremony.