CBM Group Photo

Coordinated Border Management (CBM) Working Group Extended

Koror, Palau – On October 15, 2024, President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. signed Executive Order No. 489 which amended the term of the Coordinated Border Management (CBM) Working Group to remain in effect, as it expired on September 30, 2024 as established through Executive Order No. 475.

The CBM Working Group is mandated to emphasize coordination and mutual assistance among the various government agencies to strengthen Palau’s border security and management, modernize our border management practices by streamlining policies and enhancing our technological systems, and combat the ongoing challenges and threats posed by transnational crimes and other illegal cross-border activities.

Successful facilitation, collaboration, and resource-sharing among border agencies has proven that the CBM Working group is a critical platform for enhancing the Republic’s border security.

Oath of Office

Oath of Office for additional 5 Customs Officers

Koror, Palau – July 16, 2024 – The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection is pleased to announce the addition of four new Customs Officers: Joyah Nigraiwet, Dawn Surech Kemesong, Lynette Ikesakes, and Carter Ngiralbong. Carter Ngiralbong, previously serving as a Biosecurity Officer, has transitioned into his new role as a Customs Officer. The swearing-in ceremony also included the Chief of the Division of Corporate Services, Robert Tarkong.

These new appointments come just one month after three other Customs Officers took their Oath of Office. The Bureau’s dedication to strengthening border security is exemplified by these strategic hires and promotions, which will significantly bolster our efforts in maintaining the security and efficiency of our operations.

The addition of these officers will provide much-needed support to our team, ensuring that we continue to meet our security objectives effectively of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. We are confident that these new officers will bring valuable skills and dedication to their roles, helping us safeguard our borders more efficiently.

The Bureau remains committed to its mission of protecting the borders and upholding the law, and the newly sworn-in officers are expected to play a crucial role in achieving these goals.

For further information, please contact the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection at 488-1985/6031 or email us at customs@bcbp.pw, or you can visit our website at bcbp.pw for more information.

i1l6is0n

Work on Strategic Planning

Over the past 2 weeks, Customs, Immigration and Biosecurity Officers (CIB) from both management and intermediate levels have been meeting at least three times a week to discuss and work on their strategic plan as an activity organized by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP). According to Director John Tarkong Jr., these sessions of meetings have really focused on developing a strategic plan aimed at fruitful discussions to help identify and analyze issues, existing activities and measures that also involve policy at the Bureau level that we hope will strengthen BCBP to work smarter, be more innovative and more efficient over the next four years. In line with these discussions, Tarkong mentioned that we are also fortunate to receive online technical assistance from the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) through the advice and expertise of a consultant to help us review our work and point us in the right direction.

A number of challenges were identified to include the COVID-19 Pandemic that affected everyone in Palau and the world and, as a result, this called for greater collaboration between our border, law enforcement and other relevant agencies. Our vision and plan, while still in the making, includes measurable standards and targets and once completed it will help lay out a realistic strategy for reforming our organization over the next four to five years.  While there are indeed significant initiatives that are essential to enable CIB Officers to fulfill our institutional obligations and to become a reliable, trustworthy and an efficient organization, a number of strategic objectives and focus points were formulated. In fact, CIB officers felt that it is very important that we continue to build and invest in our people and technical resources while enhancing border control, infrastructure improvements, strengthen the legal framework, improve travel and trade facilitation, improving revenue and compliance measures as well as improving our overall service delivery. Over the next few weeks, CIB will continue to work and develop the plan. Stay tuned.