Minister explains cancellation

By HELEN TARAWA
IMMIGRATION and Border Security Minister Westly Nukundj says an immigration advisory board meeting to be held at a resort outside Port Moresby, had to be stopped because the board’s term has expired.
Nukundj, in response to questions on the cancellation of the meeting last week, told The National that he called off the meeting because the term of the board had expired on May 5.
The meeting was organised by the Immigration and Citizenship Authority and various stakeholders.
Nukundj said the acting chief migration officer (CMO) Robert Kennedy was aware that the board’s term had expired but went ahead to send letters to stakeholders.
“I had to stop the meeting because there is no board is place,” he said. “The acting CMO was adamant to have the meeting but there was no legitimate board as their term had expired.”
Kennedy said he would send a statement.
Nukundj said Kennedy was an ex-officio member of the board.
The members of the board include representatives of the police department, department of foreign affairs, and Justice department.
Nukundj directed the start of the appointment process for the new board. He said his office was working with the Department of Personnel Management to start the process for the appointment.