His Excellency
Casten Nemra
Nemra in January 2016
Minister of Finance of the Marshall Islands
Assumed office
29 June 2023
PresidentDavid Kabua
Preceded byBrenson Wase
7th President of the Marshall Islands
In office
11 January 2016 – 28 January 2016
Preceded byChristopher Loeak
Succeeded byHilda Heine
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
13 January 2020 – 2022
PresidentDavid Kabua
Preceded byJohn Silk
Personal details
Born (1971-07-29) 29 July 1971 (age 52)
Kwajalein Atoll, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Marshall Islands)
Political partyIndependent
SpouseTerry Paul Nemra
Children4
Alma materPortland State University

Casten Ned Nemra (born July 29, 1971) is a Marshallese politician who was President of the Marshall Islands for 17 days in January 2016. He was elected by the Nitijeļā (Parliament) as President in January 2016, following the 2015 general election, narrowly defeating Senator Alvin Jacklick, a seven-term member of Parliament, by a 17–16 vote.[1] He was the youngest person to hold the job and the second commoner.[2] He was ousted by a vote of no confidence after just two weeks in office by the opposition for jumping ship and joining Iroij Mike Kabua's Aelon Kein Ad party along with Senators Dennis Momotaro and Daisy-Alik Momotaro.[3]

Early life and education

Nemra was born on July 29, 1971, in Ebeye, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, which were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time.[4] He was educated at Assumption High School, a Roman Catholic school in Majuro.[4] Nemra received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Portland State University in 2000.[4]

Career

Nemra served as the Budget Director for Office of International Development Assistance from 2001 to 2004.[4] He then served as Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Finance from 2004 to 2007.[4] Nemra was next appointed the Chief Secretary of the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 2008 until 2015.[4]

Nemra was elected as a Senator in the Nitijeļā in the 2015 general election, representing the Jaluit Atoll constituency in the Ralik Chain.[4]

Since January 2020, he has been the foreign minister of the Marshall Islands.[5] As foreign minister, he highlighted that the Marshallese government and people "have no intention to relocate" or become climate refugees. He said in April 2021 that the Marshallese are on the islands to stay.[6] He was removed as foreign minister in early 2022.[7] He was appointed as Minister of Finance in June 2023.[7]

Personal life

Nemra is married to Terry Paul Nemra, the former First Lady of the Marshall Islands. The couple have four children.[4] A resident of Jaluit Atoll, Nemra speaks both English and Marshallese.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Casten Nemra elected new RMI President". Marshall Islands Journal. 2016-01-04. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  2. ^ "Nemra elected Marshall Islands President". Radio New Zealand. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  3. ^ Johnson, Giff (2016-01-28). "Hilda emerges as RMI President". Marshall Islands Journal. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Members: President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands – His Excellency President Casten Nemra". Marshall Islands Journal. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  5. ^ "Members".
  6. ^ "Climate-affected Marshall Islands don't intend to relocate". RNZ. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Casten takes up Finance". The Marshall Islands Journal. 29 June 2023.
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Political offices Preceded byChristopher Loeak President of the Marshall Islands 2016 Succeeded byHilda Heine Preceded byJohn M. Silk Minister of Foreign Affairs 2020–present Incumbent
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