Thursday May 7 2020
The Government is committed to repatriating every single stranded Papua New Guinean abroad back home, and assured that discussions and negotiations with Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade are progressing.
COVID-19 SOE Controller and Police Commissioner, David Manning
The COVID-19 SOE Controller, David Manning. says the repatriation exercise for stranded citizens abroad is in progress, and assured them that they will be safely brought back into the country.
Mr Manning admitted, this has not progressed as quickly as other countries have, but they have been working closely with the DFAIT to bring back stranded Papua New Guineans. “This is an ongoing activity and we remain committed to assessing case by case arrangement to not only see how best we can facilitate ,but subsidize costs for our citizens returning back home.
“The main focus now is clearing the stranded citizens in Australia, then work across to the Pacific but the only restriction is the availability of flights. Flights in and out of Singapore have been closed and may have an impact on citizens stranded there as well,” Mr Manning said. Mr Manning said there have also been requests on medical grounds for self-quarantine at home or residence outside of the designated quarantine venues stressing this is subject to an approval process and on a case by case basis.
Close to 800 citizens are to be repatriated back into the country with the majority living in Australia, and many others scattered across the Pacific and other parts of the world. All persons returning home will undergo a 14-day quarantine in selected facilities.
Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
Team Leader – COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557: Email: ddkakas@gmail.com