PNG border authorities complain of staff shortages

Papua New Guinea border authorities working at a post in the north-western province of Sandaun, are reportedly using facilities provided by Indonesia because of a lack of resources.

The National newspaper reports the Wutung border post, on the PNG border with Indonesia's Papua province, often do without telephone and facsimile services and an electricity supply.

Government officials have also complained of a staff shortage to properly screen people and goods crossing the border.

A national agriculture quarantine officer says on the other side of the border, their Indonesian counterparts are well equipped and better resourced to monitor and do surveillance work.

He says after their lines were disconnected, the officers resorted to using the Indonesian mobile phone service to call regional and national offices.

The officer says the Wutung border post is as important as Port Moresby's international airport and the government must not ignore it.