Manele opens new Immigration Division office in Auki

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POLICY TICK FOR GNUT AS IMMIGRATION SERVICES OPENED IN AUKI

The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) has achieved another policy milestone with the official opening of the Immigration Division in Auki, Malaita Province last week.

The establishment of the Immigration Division not only provide relief to the congested Immigration Office in Honiara, but it is also the realization of the government’s on- going commitment to decentralize government’s services to the Provinces.

The setting up of the Immigration Division in Auki is featured in the 100 days program of GNUT, and its opening is a tick in the box for the government.

The Immigration Division in Auki will provide passport services and later on, visa services as well.

In terms of data derived from the Pacific- Australia Labor Mobility (PALM), of the 6,500 plus workers in Australia, about 40% are from Malaita Province.

With the availability of the immigration services in Auki, potential PALM workers will have the opportunity to acquire passports without incurring other costs such as transportation and accommodation expenses.

Malaita Province becomes the second Province to host the Immigration Division, Noro in Western Province is the first. Noro opens its Immigration Division in March of this year.

In his brief remarks during the opening of the office in Auki, Prime Minister honorable Jeremiah Manele MP expressed that the opening of the Immigration Division will be a relief for PALM applicants but also the general public of Auki.

Adding that the establishment of the office marks an achievement for the government in terms of availing immigration services to the people in the Provinces.

The Immigration services comes at the right time as Malaita Province is gearing up for a number of infrastructure projects such as the Kilu’ufi improvement project, the Auki road tar sealing project, construction of bridges in identified locations, a Solomon Islands National University Campus and on- going work to progress the Bina Harbor project. These projects will spark a lot of movements of both locals and foreigners.

Government is committed to the on- going effort to decentralize government’s services to the Provinces, and the opening of immigration services is part of that unwavering dedication.

End

OPMC Press Release