Travel
Half a million dollars set aside for e-passports
Maggie Boyle June 21, 2019 6:54 am
Fiji will purchase 40 000 e-passport booklets to the tune of half a million dollars.
Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Department of Immigration, Voreqe Bainimarama told Parliament the new initiatives aims at strengthening border control services.
All e-passports will include a chip containing bio-metric details for verification as an added security feature and to protect against forgery and identify theft.
“These include the production of E-Passports for easier border entry, the implementation of new E-Gates at the Nadi International Airport, closer integration with INTERPOL, building our IT and intelligence capacity and engaging in a comprehensive review of all current laws, regulations and process for all immigration services.”
In addition, $80 000 has been allocated in the 2019-2020 budget to carry out refurbishment works at the Nadi Safe House which is expected to bolster the facility’s security, keeping detainees safe and preventing escapes.
