OPENING OF THE NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS, INTELLIGENCE
PROFILING WORKING GROUPAND MARITME CONTACT POINTS’
INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SHARING WORKSHOP

APIA, SAMOA
18TH to 22nd March, 2024

O lea ua mautu la tatou faasifoga i le tatou Atua, aua ua lē sopo le taili i le
fisaga. Ua malu maunu tiaseu ina ua tafesilafa’i le ao, ma faailo le malama mai
lagī, le aso ua matalupe.
O se taeao taua lenei, aua o lea ua poto Sui sooupu o le faasoa lelei o
faamatalaga mo le puipuiga ma le saogalemu o Ofisa eseese o Femalagaiga mai
le Pasefika. E soa ma poupou, tapu’e ma vanivani ia mapo le malu le faasoaina o
faamatalaga tau i le puipuiga ma le saogalemu.
O le fatu lea o le galuega faapuipuiga, ia malu ma saogalemu atunuu, ma o
tatou tagata ma mea totino. O le tatou nafa ma le anava tauave faatasi lea, e su’i
tau i le tini, e faitaulaga ai mo o tatou atunuu, le Pasefika ma le lalolagi.
Ou te manatu o le a le afaina i so outou finagalo le momoli o le tatou upu i
le gagana peretania mo le malamalama o nai o tatou uso mai le Pasefika ma a
tatou paaga mai fafo ua o tatou faatasi i lenei taeao.

Reverend Inu Amosa Pouoa
Members of the Pacific Immigration Development Community Management
Board
Head of the PIDC Secretariat
Representatives of Countries Contact Points from the region
Colleagues and friends

I welcome you to this significant week of intelligence and information sharing
amongst Immigration Officers, partners, and stakeholders.

The PIDC National Contact Points was created to foster transparent and effective
communication, nurture genuine partnerships, and strengthen coordination and
collaboration among our Pacific Immigration agencies, to strive for solidarity and
unity on ways to address multifaceted challenges we face in the immigration
spectrum.

With technological advancement, information sharing has evolved and improved
in frequency and timeliness and availability in various forms. However notable
challenges are evident in the areas of research, analytical capability, verification,
accountability and transparency. The evolving security landscape at various
levels, legislative requirements, systemic capacity, and personalities are other
major factors hindering free and timely sharing of information and intelligence
among law enforcement agencies. This has ramifications on seamless response to
security risks and emergencies and channelling of humanitarian assistance.

Bridging this gap is one of the fundamental reasons why NCP was formulated
and all the more reason why we are exploring and expanding into new frontiers,
such as the commencement of the maritime NCP for immigration officers
specifically working in the maritime environment. We know, a lot is happening
in the maritime domain and immigration is one of the key components of
maritime security. Open and timely information sharing with other law
enforcement agencies, through proper protocols and processes, will ensure
continuous flow of information.

There are challenges in intelligence networking, irregular people movement,
maritime and cyber security, rapid technological advancement, in conjunction
with profiling and biometrics. The opportunity therefore to share, receive, discuss
and dialogue through this NCP platform can lead to better coordination, trusted
networking, interoperability, and above all, a secure, safe and prosperous blue
Pacific. I believe the sessions organised for this meeting will help refresh, equip
and bolster our joint efforts to respond to traditional and emerging security
threats.

I should mention that artificial intelligence is fast becoming a tool used by
security agencies to help with their information and intelligence support. We will
need to further explore it in our pursuit of a united front in our fight against
transnational organized crimes, illegal migration, smuggling and trafficking to
name a few.

Please do get some time to see our country. Enjoy our Samoan hospitality and
make the most of your time in Apia.

I wish you all fruitful discussions over the next few days.

God bless you,

Soifua.