27 Oct 2008

Solomon Islands border protection gets boost with Australia MOU

8:19 pm on 27 October 2008

The Solomon Islands deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono says that a new Border Security agreement signed with Australia will go a long way to helping tighten the country's capacity to protect its borders.

Under the MOU signed this month between the two countries and the International Organisation for Migration or IOM, a new two-year program will focus on core Immigration Division functions, including legislation, policy development and business processing.

The Border Strengthening Program will be managed through the IOM based at the Immigration Division offices in Honiara.

Fred Fono says the program should assist their Immigration Division in moving forward toward a fully functioning, accountable and more sustainable immigration agency.

"Given the influx of people that migrate from one country to another seeking refugee status, it is important that we strengthen our immigration capability to protect our borders and our sovereignty."

Fred Fono