Press Briefing

Palau Signs Inter-Agency Group Co-operative Agreement

21 March 2008

The Honourable Vice President/Minister of Justice Elias Camsek Chin, together with the Attorney General's Office, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Public Safety, Division of Customs, Division of Revenue and Taxation, Financial Institutions Commission, Foreign Investment Board, Labor Department and Social Security, jointly signed a Co-operative Agreement establishing an inter-agency group (IAG) in the Republic of Palau on 21 March 2008. 
 
The inter-agency group is a practical step towards enhanced co-operation and information sharing.  This will help combat transnational crime, terrorism, and criminal activities that will enhance border security, internal security, and community wellbeing and safety.  The inter-agency group is essentially a "ground up" initiative which reflects the emergence of inter-jurisdictional targets in the Republic of Palau.  In other words - a common sense approach to a very real problem.  Dealing with these offenders provides a multi-agency response.  There are also advantages in terms of being able to direct greater resources against a particular problem.  This results in a more effective and efficient use of the Government's total resources. 
 
The objectives of the inter-agency group are to:
-         provide for the timely exchange of information
-         facilitate opportunities for the sharing of resources
-         enhance communications and co-ordination of effort
-         develop joint targeting strategies
-         jointly profile common suspects
-         develop and enhance common training opportunities. 
 
The inter-agency group will also help strengthen the information being reported from Palau to regional law enforcement organisations such as the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), the Pacific Immigration Directors' Conference (PIDC), Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) and Pacific Islands Law Officers Network (PILON).  These organisations then report to the annual Forum Regional Security Committee meeting which reports directly to Forum Leaders.  This helps build the security of all countries in the Pacific Region. 
 
The inter-agency group is part of an initiative called the Pacific Region Immigration Identity Project (PRIIP) which is sponsored by the PIDC and supported by OCO and PICP with funding provided by the New Zealand government.  The overarching purpose of the PRIIP is to build capability to detect, prevent, investigate, prosecute, measure, and respond to identity crime.  Palau is the first pilot country to participate, with others including Samoa, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati.  Palau will act as a mentor to neighbouring countries e.g. Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas and FSM. 
 
As an example of inter-agency co-operation, a trainer from the Bureau of Immigration, Division of Customs and Bureau of Public Safety have developed and started to deliver a training package on identity crime awareness including types of identity crime, examples from Palau, and how to protect oneself.  The development of the training is ongoing and further training sessions will be delivered to government agencies, private sector and the public. 

(Ends)