Repatriation of PNG citizens based on medical clearance

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister James Marape says PNG citizens overseas will be brought back based on their medical clearance, and will be required to follow state of emergency procedures.
Marape said the citizens had been outside their country for too long and should not be stressed further by paying hotel fees upfront.
State of Emergency Controller David Manning earlier said the Government would pay for the citizens’ quarantine when they arrived home.
Marape will talk to the Department of Foreign Affairs about a K5,000 fee it is requiring citizens to pay upfront.
“We will tidy this with Foreign Affairs (and Manning) and make sure that they do not have much impediments,” Marape said.
“The citizens have been away for too long (and) we don’t want to stress our citizens.
“We will look at how they could be (brought back home) in terms of the medical clearance.
“We sympathise with them and I will organise for their (trip back home) at the very earliest.”
Manning said the repatriation exercise for citizens was in progress and assured that every citizen would be safely brought back home.