POLICE have confirmed that the yachts sighted at Liapari, Western Province have been in the country prior to the government’s declaration of the state of emergency in terms of COVID-19.
Acting Police Chief Mostyn Mangau said police attended to the report of the yacht sightings at Liapari on Wednesday morning.
“There are a number of yachts and most of these yachts are left at Liapari,” Mr. Mangau said.
He said the owners of these yachts at Liapari have returned to their countries due to the COVID-19.
“As we know throughout the world they banned vessels to enter into their waters especially pleasure boats and yachts.
“….so it’s hard for them to return to their countries so they left the boats at Liapari and returned to their countries,” he added.
He said only three yachts have people still on board.
Mangau said police and officers from Immigration and Customs boarded those yachts and confirmed that the boats are in the country before the declaration of the emergency zones were issued.
“They were unable to return to their countries because of the restrictions imposed by their own countries.
“We are working closely with other agencies to ensure we are protected, informed of the type and number of vessels in our country and that this information is relayed to our community through proper channel.
“We understand there is a joint travel advisory issued on March 23 that no foreign vessels such as pleasure boats, yachts and other boats except for cargo, logging or mining boats are allowed to come into the country.”
Mangau added that cargo boats or any logging or mining boats will have to be quarantined for 14 days and cleared by medical officers, immigrations and customs before they can be dispatched to various ports to load or unload cargos.
He, however, appealed to communities across the country to report to the responsible authority any sightings of boats if they have any suspicions or doubts that might cause fear to community.
Mangau said this is for them to get clarifications or more accurate information from responsible authorities rather than spreading rumours and cause fear within our communities.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
