First 24 passports issued by newly-established Auki Immigration Office, marking a milestone achievement for GNUT, MEGTG, more passports to be issued next week
A HISTORIC milestone was marked in the Malaita Provincial Capital on Friday as the first batch of passport applicants in Malaita Province received their passports after the opening of the Auki Immigration Office by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele in August.
Prime Minister Manele opened the first-ever immigration office in Auki during the 41st Second Appointed Day Anniversary on August 15.
Last week, the 24 out of the first 52 Malaita-based passport applicants received their passports at the Auki Immigration office.
The remaining 28 applicants will receive theirs sometimes this week.
A jubilant Auki Senior Immigration Officer Selwyn Ramoni said the purpose for the launching of the Immigration Office is to provide easy access for Malaitans to passport services and this is one of the priorities of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
Mr Ramoni said with the achievement of the passport processing phase, the next phase is the procession of visas for visitors coming into the province, giving them the opportunity to directly apply for short and long-term visas as well as business visas.
He said the Auki Immigration Office will boost the number of its officers as the demand for the passport service continues to rise.
“Currently, there are only two of us – Immigration Officers – here in Auki serving the whole province and we will increase the number of staff as we go on.”
Mr Ramoni said one of the services that is yet to be included to the service provided by the Auki Immigration Office is the printing of passports but this will be taken aboard when the office expands operation.
The Malaita Provincial Secretary, Eric George, in his remarks acknowledged the strong political will of both the Malaita Economic Corporative and Transformative Government (MEGTG) and GNUT to ensuring this important service reaches Malaita and their successful collaboration on this front.
He said MEGTG is also planning the establishment of a Labor Mobility Unit (LMU) Office in Auki to expand accessibility for more Malaitans into the seasonal labor workforce.
“So, this is the beginning of the kind of milestone services that we want decentralized to our province because in the past, Malaitans who want to apply for passports have to travel to Honiara and they do spend a lot of money on fare and accommodation.
“They also put economic pressures on their relatives in Honiara. But now that an Immigration Office is right here in the province, our labor force who want to apply for the seasonal work can apply for a passport just at their doorstep,” Mr George said.
Mr George said with the presence of an Immigration Office in Auki, more Malaitans will be encouraged to apply for recruitment as seasonal workers and when they go to work either in Australia or New Zealand, they will send remittances that will not only support their families, but boost the provincial economy.
He said MEGTG is also working to establish an entrepreneurship scheme so youths who go for seasonal work in Australia and New Zealand under the arrangement of the Labor Mobility Unit (LMU) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) can translate the farming skills they acquired to start their own small businesses when they return home.
Mr George said MEGTG under the abled leadership of Premier Elijah Asilaua prioritizes agriculture, adding that such scheme would have a rippling economic benefit on communities because the provincial government will support youths in this venture.
He said work on establishing this entrepreneurship scheme to be called the Small Medium Enterprise for Economic Development Advisory Committee is underway and once finances are available, different lifeline products will be introduced to enable youths to embark on a variety of entrepreneurship ventures.
Mr George said he strongly believes that the strength of any economy lies in human capital so if the Malaita Provincial Government under the leadership of MEGTG nurtures and cultivates the mindset of the province’s youths, the province will benefit greatly in the long-term.
He also took the opportunity to acknowledge GNUT for including the decentralization of passport service in its 100-Days Policy, adding that the milestone achievement of the issuance of the first batch of passports is the fruit of the 100-Days Policy.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Auki
