NOW that she is a U.S. citizen, Betty Nora Swasty Sirait said she will be sailing around the world.
Sirait, a licensed able-bodied seawoman, was among the 19 individuals sworn in as new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the District Court for the NMI on Tuesday morning.
Born in Indonesia, Sirait said she came to Saipan in 2014 with her husband, retired U.S. Navy Reserve Captain Michael W. Bacher.
“My husband was then one of the captains of a merchant ship out there in the lagoon,” Sirait said.
She added that the hardest part of her journey in becoming a U.S. citizen was gathering required legal documents from Indonesia.
“We got married twice, in Bali, then in my hometown, following my family tradition,” she added.
“I have merchant marine credentials. I can now work one of those gray ships out there — that’s one of my dreams,” she said.
“Growing up in Indonesia, I didn’t have the freedom to say something against the government, but here, in the U.S. you can say anything you want. U.S. citizenship is a blessing; it’s freedom.”
Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy presided over the special session and conducted the swearing in of the petitioners for U.S. citizenship.
Patricia Phelan, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, made the motion in court to accept the applicants as new citizens.
Michael Sablan, a business executive and a civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army for CNMI, was the guest speaker at the naturalization ceremony.
Sablan encouraged the new citizens to register and vote. “Make your voices heard. By doing so you fulfill your responsibility as Americans.”
He added, “While our citizenship bestows in each of us tremendous privileges as Americans in terms of rights, protections and benefits, we as citizens must also realize we have responsibilities as Americans to do what we can to preserve our nation’s freedom, equality and justice.”
Sablan said America’s strength as a country “does not only lie solely in our leaders, or on those who put on a uniform to serve the country — the strength of our country relies heavily on us, you and I, as citizens, of good character committed to preserving all good things that made us a great country in the world. Our country needs our help, and one of the most important tools available to us as citizens, is our right to vote.”
Also sworn in as new citizens on Tuesday were Elena Galvez Aguon, Cosette Marian Empleo Ayuyu, Olivia Reyes Bateman, Jinky Sevilla Browne, Marilou Cando Carlos, Marjorie Nacional Castro, Michelle Saludares Cuellar, Melba Badal Darag, Elenita Poco Manlabao, Juanito Malit Manlabao, Lorenzo Malbas Oboza, Conrado Parera Pascual, Sandy Bernardo Quemado, Concepcion Aureo Reyes, Clarence Joy Sandajan Santos, Ronald Santa Cruz Saturno, Teodora Borja Soriano, and Elna Madurar Tighe.
Nineteen new U.S. citizens were sworn in on Tuesday by Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI. Also in the photo are Michael Sablan, civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army for the CNMI, and Patricia Phelan, U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services officer.
Betty Nora Swasty Sirait and husband, retired U.S. Navy Reserve Capt. Michael W. Bacher.
