The Minister for Public Service Joe Sungi clarified that the National Executive Council had revoked the appointment of Mr Robert Barra Kennedy as Chief Migration Officer and approved the appointment of Mr Stanis Hulahau to the position as the new Chief Migration Officer on and from 28th January 2021.
Minister Joe Sungi was responding to comments made by the former Acting Chief Migration Officer, Mr. Robert Barra Kennedy the media claiming that he will only vacate the Office of the Chief Migration Officer once clarification is made on the substantive appointment.
Mr. Sungi said that the National Executive Council in its Decision No. 05/2021 on 20th January 2021 approved to advise the Head of State to revoke the appointment of Mr. Kennedy as Acting Chief Migration Officer and approved to advise the Head of State to appoint Mr. Stanis Hulahau as the new Chief Migration Officer effective on and from 28th January 2021 as published in the National Gazette No. G47 of 28th January 2021.
Mr. Sungi said before the permanent appointment was made, Mr. Kennedy was in the office on acting basis and this acting appointment has lapsed officially on 27th January 2021.
Mr. Sungi further highlighted and clarified that Mr. Kennedy’s acting
appointment was extended from 10th December 2020 to 9th March 2021, however the NEC Decision and the gazettal on the new substantive appointment now supersedes the instrument of acting appointment which I can confirm is in order.
The Minister now urges the proper hand-over take-over of office to take place between the former acting Chief Migration Officer and the new Chief Migration Officer in the presence of the Minister for Immigrations and Border Security, Westly Nukundj and the new Immigration & Citizenship Authority Board.