PNG 14 is a hands off matter says Fiji envoy

January 30, 2010 08:44:32 AM

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Fiji’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Niumia Tabunakawai says there is nothing that the Fiji government can do about 14 Fijian nationals detained in PNG over allegations that they breached their visa conditions.

Tabunakawai said the men are still being held by Immigration officials.

“The men were brought in by Allied Gold Ltd of Australia, the company they work for. But they were not entitled to work,” he told FijiLive.

“PNG authorities found that the men had breached their visa conditions,” he said.

“It is the law of the country and there's nothing we can do. They did not have work permits which are the proper documents, if they wish to work here.”

Allied is an Australian-based company with gold production and exploration activities in Papua New Guinea and is also involved in the construction of gold producing infrastructure.

There are fresh reports out of PNG that the men will not be repatriated because the PNG National Court has granted the company a stay order on the group’s repatriation.

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