25 August 2022– Mr. Jarvis Tarkong joined Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) as a searcher in August 2020 and was promoted in March 2021 to Team Leader under the Australian Government’s sponsored clearance team.
As Team Leader, Mr Tarkong will continue his development and attend training for an International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) qualification at MAT Kosovo in September and October 2022.
The Australian Government is proud to be supporting Mr Tarkong. On completing the course, Mr Tarkong will become the second Palauan to have reached the international level. He will join fellow co-worker Christopher Willis as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 3 officer, providing Palau with a solid foundation to lead national efforts.
The IMAS certification is only awarded to individuals who have proven themselves by passing the course assessments. The course will provide Mr. Tarkong with the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to perform the duties and tasks of a field operator and plan and manage Humanitarian Mine Action field operations following International Mine Action Standards.
The Australian Government wishes Mr Tarkong all the best in his studies and on his return leading efforts to locate, identify and safely remove remnants of war. Such efforts are critical in supporting Palau’s economic growth, protecting the environment and the safety of people.
Australia has supported the clearance of ERW in Palau since 2013. Australia’s partnership with Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) in 2020 saw a new clearance team added to efforts to remove ERW which ensures the safety for various infrastructure projects, including those commissioned by the Government of the Republic of Palau.
For more information, please contact the Australian Embassy, Palau at 488-4628 or koror.embassy@dfat.gov.au. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/AusEmbPalau/ for more details on Australia’s activities in Palau.