Borders secure: Official

ALL entry points into Papua New Guinea are secure to protect against the Delta strain of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), a senior migration officer says.
Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau assured citizens and the foreign community in the country that despite concerns, PNG’s international borders were being tightened from an immigration standpoint.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recently detected Delta variant case involving a foreign national in Papua New Guinea, Hulahau said the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (PNGICA) was executing and enforcing its laws and ensured that all foreign nationals applying for visas to travel into the country complied with stringent PNG Covid-19 protocols at PNG’s international border entry and exit points.
Hulahau said the international port of entry at Jackson International Airport, Wutung, as well as the provincial posts in Bougainville, Daru, Alotau, Lae, Mt Hagen and Kokopo were strictly enforcing compliance.
He added that Papua New Guinea immigration officials at the ports of entry and exit were on the lookout for anybody who might be trying to enter the country illegally.
Hulahau is expected to visit the border posts in coming months to evaluate the effectiveness of the Covid-19 measures.
New mechanisms for effective border administration and management will be established in the coming months to instill integrity in the border movement process in light of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The chief migration officer also recognised the contributions of relevant stakeholders such as the Papua New Guinea Customs Service, National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shipping agents and lines, airline operators and the Covid-19 National Control Centre in their collaborative efforts to ensure that Papua New Guinea’s borders are protected at all times during this global Covid-19 pandemic.