JUFFA calls on governement to revive Task Force

The National Government has been called on to consider reviving the once-vibrant Immigration Task Force - Rausim Alien - to clamp down on illegal foreigners and their illegal activities around the country.

Northern Governor, Gary Juffa, said this in light of recent uprising in Lae, Morobe Province, and the arrival of the illegal boat people in Wewak, East Sepik Province.

.Immigration Task Force Rausim Alien was established in 2012 by the National Executive Council and operated for only one year within the Immigration and Citizenship Services.

It was established purposely to control the movement of foreigners in the country, and since then it had exposed and uncovered many illegal activities including deporting notorious foreigners with connections to prominent Papua New Guineans, resulting in millions of Kina being recouped.

However, the Task Force was disbanded in 2013 for unknown reasons.

Outspoken Governor Gary Juffa said, under funding and disbanding of such vital Task Force raises eyebrows.

Our Immigration laws are actually quite good, its just that they are not administered or enforced adequately, and the Immigration department does not have the capacity, it needs to be revamp, we need more immigration officers. It need to develop intelligence and an investigative capacity. And you know, ..and be able to get out there and conduct more investigations, inquiries, inspections and start prosecuting people. Thats how you know, carry out your function. It wasn't happening enough. There was a Task Force, the Immigration task force, it was disbanded for some reasons I had no idea why? ....Performing well and deporting a lot of people, and getting a lot of work done., you know,...those task force teams, those inter agencies, committees, efforts have ahh, all out of the way and now there is nothing happening out there."

Juffa further said currently the country is at risk of transnational crimes and wants the Task Force to be revived so that there is some control over the movement of foreigners in and out of the country.

"For instance if you are able to monitor the movement of people from certain parts of the world coming into PNG.And one of those persons comes from the particularly risky portion of the world then you are able to intervene, pickup that person at the airport, interrogate that person and find out who that person is, and what is purposes are for being in this country. Now that's not happening. I worked in this industry and since I've left, I've gone back to review what's happening and I can honestly tell you that its shocking and its frightening.The economy, country is very vulnerable.We do not place enough resources into developing, have the protecting our national security interest".

Meanwhile, attempt to get comments from the Chief Immigration Officer Mataio Rabura over the last two days were unsuccessful.