McGRADE GRANTED DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Picture Caption: Susie McGrade was amonst the other Dual Citizenship recipients. Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration Minister Jhn Rosso was in Kokopo to officiate the Ceremony witnessed by Kokopo MP Ereman Tobaining Jnr, ENB Provincial Administrator Levi Mano, and Chief Migration Officer Wellington Navasivu

By Wasita ROYAL

A smiling Susie McGrade stood among ten recipients officially granted Papua New Guinean citizenship at a ceremony held recently at the Gazelle International Hotel (GIH).

McGrade, born and raised in East New Britain, is now a dual British-PNG citizen.

The moment was deeply personal—a resolution to years of struggle in keeping her family connected to her country of origin to East New Britain, the province she calls home.

“Our children are getting jobs in Australia or overseas, and then they have to take up residency there. They couldn’t return because it was too difficult to regain their citizenship,” McGrade said, her voice filled with relief. “But now, there’s a change of heart.”

The ceremony, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration Minister John Rosso, recognized 77 new citizens, including five dual citizens and five naturalized individuals—among them, four West Papuan refugees integrated into East New Britain’s community.

McGrade, one of the dual citizenship recipients, stressed how the policy shift could reverse the “brain drain” of skilled Papua New Guineans who were previously unable to return.

Born and raised in East New Britain, McGrade’s family has contributed significantly to the province’s economy.

Yet as a single mother, she faced challenges when traveling solely on a Papua New Guinean passport.

“When they offered dual citizenship, I took it,” she said. “I was delighted to retain my British citizenship while keeping my status here. Now, my children can come home.”

The event was attended by Kokopo MP Ereman Tobaining Jnr, ENB Provincial Administrator Levi Mano, and Chief Migration Officer Wellington Navasivu.

Minister Rosso emphasized the government’s push to ease citizenship barriers—a move McGrade praised. “I’m thrilled Minister Rosso recognizes this issue. We need our children back,” she said.

For McGrade and others, the ceremony was more than paperwork—it was a homecoming.

The citizenship grants are part of a broader initiative to strengthen ties with overseas Papua New Guineans, particularly in the New Guinea Islands Region.

Dual citizenship, reintroduced in 2023, aims to curb skilled migration by allowing nationals to hold foreign passports without forfeiting their PNG rights. McGrade’s story demonstrates the policy’s impact—both for families and the nation’s future.