PNG Immigration

PNG expands Visa on Arrival to all Pacific Islands

Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau, made the official announcement today, emphasizing the aim to strengthen relations with Pacific Island States and the Pacific Forum countries.

Effective immediately, this expansion encompasses passport holders from Micronesian and Polynesian States and Territories, making all Pacific Island States in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia eligible for VOA at authorized ports of entry, including Jacksons International Airport and Wutung land border post.

Asylum seekers face deportation

They are currently kept at a separate facility at the Bomana jail.

The men from Bangladesh; Jashim Jashim, Hossain Mhamman Mobarak and Rahman Siddiqur today appeared before the court however, their urgent application could not proceed further to hearing because an interpreter was needed. 

Justice Jim Wala Tamata issued directions for lawyers from the Public Solicitor’s Office to assist the three with their cases and provide legal aid to the applicants.

He said the application is urgent and needs to be dealt with quickly.

Refugees in POM return to Manus

A team from the PNG Immigration, Police and Correctional Service flew with the refugees into Manus last Friday on a chartered Air Nauru flight.

Four of those who were supposed to be on the flight stayed back in Port Moresby.

Manus PPC, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said they were received by PNG Immigration officers and Police and escorted to their new accommodation site at Hillside and West Lorengau in Ward 1.

He said the refugees were voluntarily escorted from Port Moresby to Manus and later transported to their campsite without any use of force.

No update yet from Immigration on Woo’s review

Woo’s lawyer, Greg Sheppard, appeared before Justice Hitelai Polume-Kiele today however could not update the court on the progress of the review as lawyer representing the Chief Migration officer Mataio Rabura and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, Barrion Kua was not in court.

Kua told the court on Oct 3 that a committee was reviewing an application by Woo to come back to the country following his deportation.

When asked how long such reviews take, Sheppard told the court it is “usually done within a few days.”

LOOP PNG’s 5@5

Police apprehend suspect in Gr 10 student killing

A quick response by Lae Police has seen the apprehension of the main suspect involved in the killing of a student at Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School last Friday.

http://www.looppng.com/content/police-apprehend-suspect-gr-10-student-killing

 

PM O’Neill: It is not wise to sell customary land

New accommodation arrangements for refugees

The PNG Immigration has released new accommodation arrangements for the transferees which will see them separated in compounds according to their processing status come Oct 4.

Loop PNG confirmed with a transferee at the Manus centre that they were made aware of the new accommodation arrangements on Tuesday this week.

“All processing will end soon. Once the Minister decides your refugee status, there is no reason for you to remain in this centre,” the Communication guide released by PNG Immigration to those at the center stated.