New citizens encouraged to continue helping build PNG

THE two people granted naturalised citizenship, plus the 22 given dual citizenship status, have been told to be loyal to the nation and respect its laws.
The message was conveyed by Immigration and Border Security Minister Petrus Thomas during a ceremony for the 24 in Port Moresby on Friday. “The men and women sitting here have contributed significantly in your own ways to the development of the country and in nation building,” he said.
“You have remained in this country in good and bad times. You deserved to be recognised as citizens of this great country.
“Some of you are married to Papua New Guineans.
“Some of your great grandparents, grandparents and even parents were born in this country, remained in this country and built this country.
“Others are reconnecting through their heritage.”
Thomas told the 24 people that they were a “special group and you should be proud of yourselves.
“You are the first in this country to be recognised as dual citizens,” he said.
“Let me also remind you that as a Papua New Guinean, you have an obligation to the country.
“You must respect the laws of this country and be loyal to this country. We must build this country together and make it greater.”
He said the 24 people “were all Papua New Guineans already by heart and in what you have been doing all these years. This is just a process to formalise that”.