By Lillian Sopera Keneqa, EMTV News – Port Moresby
Principal Legal Officer for the Joint Security Task Force for APEC PNG, Francis Aigilo, was selected to take part in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program, which will focus on the U.S. State and Local Government.
This program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.
Aigilo, left PNG for the US today (March 21) for the four-week program which will take place from March 25th to April 19th, in four states which are Washington D.C, Texas, Iowa, and Massachusetts.
In his current role with the JSTF, he has proven his capabilities to work with all stakeholders, especially during APEC, to forge a stronger private-public partnership in the law and justice sector.
Given his strong desire to uphold the rule of law and human rights, Aigilo wants to learn the mechanisms of private-public partnership, to ensure law and order services reach the people in the rural areas.
“I look forward to seeing how the U.S. government and local level government work, while observing how the U.S Federal Government is set up, to that of the local level government,” said Aigilo.
After completing his legal training in 2013, Francis Agilio became a commercial lawyer, where he was involved in litigation for mining and petroleum companies, among others.
But his passion has always been criminal justice and public law, and he jumped at the opportunity to work on contract for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as the APEC Legal Officer.
He acknowledges the importance of APEC for PNG and continues to strive in his capacity with the PNG Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, after seeing APEC through.
By connecting current and emerging leaders from around the world with their American counterparts, IVLP fosters lasting relationships and helps strengthen U.S. engagement with international partners.
