The Fijian Government delegation to the 5th Bali Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime had a bilateral meeting with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), director general William Lacy Swing in Bali, Indonesia.
The director general noted Fiji‘s interest to become member of the IOM, as the premier international organization on migration issues.
Head of the Fijian delegation, the Department of Immigration director, Nemani Vuniwaqa said given the diverse areas of operations which the IOM was involved with in the area of migration and given Fiji’s geographic position as a hub in the Pacific it would be ideal for Fiji to become a member of the IOM.
“This is because Fiji is a small island developing state that accords certain vulnerabilities to the problems which irregular migration bring,” Mr Vuniwaqa said.
The Department of Immigration, through the Minister for Defence, will in the next few weeks submit a paper to Cabinet for approval to become a member of the IOM.
Accompanying Mr Vuniwaqa to this meeting was the Fiji Police Force’s international relations officer, ASP Ulaiasi Ravula and the Fiji High Commission in Jakarta second secretary Mr Pauliasi Tokasaya.
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