Auki to Offer Passport Processing Services Soon

Auki, the capital of Malaita Province, is set to begin offering passport processing services in the coming months. The announcement was made by the OUR Party Parliamentary Wing Leader and Caretaker Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, during the official launch of the Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility (OUR) Party’s manifesto last Friday in Auki.

The launch event also served as an introduction of OUR Party candidates for various constituencies in Malaita. These include Jackson Fiulaua for Central Kwara’ae, Senley Levi Filualea for North Malaita, Augustine Auga for Lau-Mbaelelea, David Filia for Aoke-Langalanga, Rex Ramofafia for Fataleka, and Manasseh Maelanga for East Malaita. While five of these candidates are members of the DCGA government, Mr. Filia is a newcomer.

The establishment of the new passport service in Auki is intended to support the labor mobility scheme. “To ensure the labor mobility scheme continues, a passport office in Auki will open soon,” stated the OUR Party Parliamentary Wing Leader. He further mentioned that the office is expected to open in the second quarter of this year, between April and June, as the majority of people employed under the labor mobility schemes come from Malaita.

A passport office for the Western Province was recently opened in Noro. “We just opened a passport office in Noro, and it became operational as of Monday, March 11,” said the OUR Party Parliamentary Wing Leader. He emphasized that having such services in the provinces should reduce the number of people traveling to Honiara to apply for passports, thereby cutting associated costs. He urged the government to expedite the provision of such important services to the people of the country.

The demand for passports continues to rise as more locals apply to work in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand under the labor mobility schemes of these countries. Additionally, the increasing number of locals traveling overseas for study, medical treatment, business, sports, and leisure has also grown over the past months.

Source: Solomon Star News
Image Source: ABC News