90 percent of these passports issued are for seasonal workers
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
A total of 13, 304 passports have been issued from 2021 to 2022 July by the Ministry of Commerce Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI)).
More than 90 percent of these passports issued are for seasonal workers according to MCILI Permanent Secretary (PS) Riley Mesepitu.
Responding to a media query on what is the exact number of passports issued so far to seasonal workers, Mr Mesepitu said he ‘unfortunately’ cannot give the exact numbers of passports issued for seasonal workers at present but can get the figure later.
In his response during the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) Press Conference held recently at Mendana Hotel, Mr Mesepitu said he can only give an estimated figure on the number of passports that have been issued in 2021 and 2022 from January to July.
“And just to inform us here I think, I would say more than 90 percent of these passports that have been issued are for seasonal workers,” said Mesepitu.
“In 2021 we have issued 8,804 passports equivalent to around $6M. The money part of it, because our central cashier is at the Finance, so they are the ones who can give us accurate figures.
“2022 from January to July alone we issued 4,500 passports. The dollar component of it is about $4, 713,000.00.
“In total, from 2021 to July of 2022, we issued around 13, 304 passports. Like I said most of these are for seasonal workers and we have recorded around $10.7M in terms of passport fees, so it is a good thing.”
Mr Mesepitu does not deny the fact that the passport office at the immigration has been overcrowded daily as raised by public comments and complaints.
“That is for sure ‘true’. Everyone wants to go to Australia and New Zealand. That is the ticket to enable one to travel.
“Why it is always overcrowded is because we cannot accommodate a whole group of people in a day, but then there is the pressure that they want passports.
“So not until last week, I mean every week, our management team has been trying to see the best options so we can manage and address the increase of our people coming into the office of immigration for passport applications.
“The process of getting a passport, just to give information for the public, when you come and get an application, fill in the requirements in that application, for instance, you have to submit a birth certificate and other documents that are required.
“So when the applications are submitted, it does not mean that the next thing [step] is you will get your passport. There has to be an assessment over the applications, and then they will enrol them. “And during the assessments, if the applications are not properly filled or completed then it will take time for them to process it. This is what a number of our good people do not understand.
“When you have a whole number of people coming into the office and then the workload is only manned by four Immigration Officers, it is a tough job for our Officers.
“Previously since last year and just a few weeks ago, the officers have worked overtime. But when doing ‘overtime’ we cannot go against the ‘Labour Act’ too on which we need to rest our Officers.
“Not just that but the equipment and machine need rest as well. So all these things have been contributing to the delay, but we are trying our very best to address that issue,” said Mesepitu.
Starting next week, the PS of MCILI said they will allocate specific days for the passport application procession of ‘seasonal workers’.
“Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, three days in a week specifically for seasonal workers, and then Tuesdays and Thursdays for others,” said Mesepitu.
“In that way, we think we can manage the number of applicants coming through. The second measure taken is we have already placed an order to the company that has the technology system for e-passports for an additional server as well as an additional printing machine.
“So we have already placed the order and they are ready to supply. When that additional equipment arrives then it will enhance our services for the people. The other measure also already taken is to get enough ‘mobile units’ so that we can place them in the provincial centres.
“For example, Malaita is heavily populated, so a mobile unit can be set up at Auki and then another maybe can be at Gizo, Western Province, or at Taro, Choiseul Province, depending on the data that we have, where most of the applications are coming from.
“This will also help in terms of costs, because most people are travelling to Honiara and meet their own expenses and additional costs. When processes are slow it prolongs staying even for months in Honiara adding additional costs.
“So these are measures that we are trying to take. We will roll out the mobile units to the provincial centres so that not necessarily when people are only applying for passports that they come, but they should have their passports already issued. So that is another step we are taking.
“In the terms of cost of a passport is $1,000.00. This is for a new passport. If they want to speed up the process then they will have to pay an additional ‘$300’.
“This passport is for 10 years. So when you are issued a passport, it can be valid for 10 years.”
Meanwhile, when suggested if passport application can be done online to avoid hiccups such as overcrowding, Mr Mesepitu from his view said it can be possible to apply such, but one thing that will make it difficult to issue passports online is they will also need features as a ‘thumbprint’.
“At the moment we do have a passport system where an overseas company is helping us set up. One thing that will make it difficult to issue passports online is that we need a thumbprint. The thumbprint must go on the passport book. We cannot do that, I mean one can do that but you need a number of requirements and then there are security issues too related.
“So maybe in the future, we can have a look at that alternate or option. But at the moment they can fill up forms and even this mobile unit mentioned today for enrolment. But to actually issue this passport, one must come through the Head Office.
“It is just my thinking that it is possible that we can do the application online, but to get those other features to go on the passport, at the moment the system has to be taken back to the Head Office to provide your thumbprint,” said Mesepitu
On what is the purpose of the extra $300 paid for speeding up passport processes, the PS for MCILI explained that when there are applicants that want the process to be fast, they are giving pressure to Officers over overtime and other areas of concern.
“So you pay an extra $300 so that the process can be speeded up within one to three days. But the speeding up the process of issuing passports is practical when there is no pressure.
“Now having the increase of applications coming in, even that extra $300 paid will still take time because ‘equipment’ is the issue. If we have additional equipment it can meet its purpose,” said Mesepitu.
