Juffa calls on re-engagement of Immigration Task Force

Northern Governor Gary Juffa has called on the government particularly the PNG Immigration Authorities to seriously consider re-engaging the Immigration task force, Rausim Alien.

Governor Juffa made the call in light of a lot of serious issues concerning national security, such as illegal immigrants, foreigners breaching visa and work permit conditions and foreigners dominating reserves jobs among others.

The Immigration Task Force Rausim Alien was sanctioned in 2011, and has been carrying out operations controlling influx of foreigners and their illegal businesses activities , headed by Mr John Bria.

It was disbanded by the government in 2013 without reason and posted Mr. Bria to take up an overseas mission.

Juffa , said its a disappointment that such a body had to be dissolved, because it plays a watch dog role.

The National Executive Council in 2011 sanction the Immigration Task Force within the PNG Immigration Services to basically regulate influx of foreigners in PNG , and since then it has been carrying out operations controlling illegal foreigners and their businesses in the country.

In their operations so far they have deported many popular illegal foreigners conducting unlawful activities in the country.

However, it has been disbanded by the government in 2013 with unknown reasons, and as the result illegal foreign activities are on the rise again.

Outspoken Governor Gary Juffa said, Reports of illegal immigrants, foreigners breaching visa and work permit conditions and foreigners taking over reserved business such as selling betel-nuts on the streets, running trade store business in towns and settlements, Asian organise crimes have surface in PNG.

Juffa said these are serious national security issues, however, government is doing little or nothing at all to address theses issues which slowly creeping into the very fabric of our society.

Governor Juffa wants concern authorities such as PNG Immigration, Labour, National Intelligence Office and others to wake up from their sleep and see the realities on the ground concerning national security.

Gary Juffa, a Former PNG Customs Commissioner says a combine operation usually carried out by the Police Intelligence, Customs Officials and Immigration Task Force Team have apprehended many illegal foreigners with their illegal activities, as well as collecting lots of revenue for the state in their operations around the country.

"I am disappointed to see institutions and organization that were designed to protect and promote the interest of Papua New Guineans, are done away with or reduced, or non performing status, or they not being funded, or their hands and feet are being tied, and they are being gagged. Institutions that protect PNG interest for example jobs, business etc are now basically useless, so the people of PNG are now left at the mercy of EXPLOITATION by rootless foreign interest that do not a bid by our laws. Basic labour work such as constructions workers, drivers, and shopkeepers are given to foreigners, and nationals who graduate from technical institutions are jobless, walking and selling cigaretts and betel-nuts on the streets. Something is terribly wrong????......Are there any agencies regulating these??? If not recall the Immigration Task Force, they have been conducting great operations around the country, departing many illegal foreigners and stopping many unlawful business activities. We only have 10 thousand jobs available every year and we produce 60 plus school leavers every year, and there is not enough jobs for them because their jobs are taken over by foreigners......Of course we need foreigners to come and help build our country and economy but IT SHOULD NOT BE at the expense of PNG, jobs, it should not be at the expenses of PNG businesses.
Institutions like the Immigration Task Force, which enforcing and administrating immigration and labour laws, for them to be disbanded is basically like removing the teeth from a watch dog, now its a tooth less organization. "

Attempts to get comments from PNG Immigration Services on the disband of Immigration Task Force was unsuccessful.