The first batch of Asylum Seekers has arrived in Manus early on Wednesday.
A total of nineteen asylum seekers comprising of eight adults and four children from Sri Lanka; and seven adults from Iran arrived on Air Nauru Chartered Boeing 737 aircraft.
They are the first detainees to arrive at the newly-opened camp on Manus Island.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato has confirmed their arrival and thanked the Manus Provincial government and the people of Manus for assisting Australia.
Police, Customs, Naqia, and officers from Immigration Department were all instrumental in the smooth transition of the refugees.
Landowners
Meanwhile, landowners are threatening to close down the centre saying that they have not been offered any primary contracts.
Manus Island MP Ronnie Knight has told The Australian that the landowners were unhappy about the “boomerang aid”. Mr Knight said the landowner’s wants primary contract rather than smaller sub-contracts from Australian firms.
Mr Knight and other Manus MP’s are attempting to negotiate greater participation by landowners and have held talks with Minister Pato on the issue and are due to meet Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish.
Meantime, the government has sent two police squads to the island, to be on hand on asylum seekers arrivals.
