Comments on: ACCESS DENIED!! http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Travel blogging around the world Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:34:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tebetikan http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-5288 Tebetikan Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:09:06 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-5288 Hello Greg,<br>I am from Kiribati, living in Australia, and reading your experience in Kiribati makes my blood boil. Like Tawita, I will also use your experience as an example of our incompetence (at times) when speaking to the Immigration Dept. I don't think the department would want to repeat the same mistake in future. <br><br>Greg, I hope this has not prevented you from planning another visit to Kiribati. All the best and hope to see you in Kiribati one day. Hello Greg,
I am from Kiribati, living in Australia, and reading your experience in Kiribati makes my blood boil. Like Tawita, I will also use your experience as an example of our incompetence (at times) when speaking to the Immigration Dept. I don't think the department would want to repeat the same mistake in future.

Greg, I hope this has not prevented you from planning another visit to Kiribati. All the best and hope to see you in Kiribati one day.

]]> By: Leif Pettersen http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-656 Leif Pettersen Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:35:14 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-656 I can't even fathom the hissyfit I would have thrown in the same situation. Needless to say that official would being going through life with one less eyebrow. I can’t even fathom the hissyfit I would have thrown in the same situation. Needless to say that official would being going through life with one less eyebrow.

]]> By: Craig http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Craig Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:31:54 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-487 Mate, that sucks! What a sad end to the Pacific leg of your trip. I know it's after the fact, but I don't know too many government offices that offer public apologies on blog posts though - good on Tawita. Enjoy Hawaii! Mate, that sucks! What a sad end to the Pacific leg of your trip.

I know it’s after the fact, but I don’t know too many government offices that offer public apologies on blog posts though – good on Tawita.

Enjoy Hawaii!

]]> By: Benjaminwilson http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-485 Benjaminwilson Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:49:53 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-485 Those bastards! Those bastards!

]]> By: Tawita http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-470 Tawita Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:44:42 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-470 Sorry, the Principal Immigration Officer's email address was stripped from my previous comment. It is mfa[at]tskl[dot]net[dot]ki. Sorry, the Principal Immigration Officer’s email address was stripped from my previous comment. It is mfa[at]tskl[dot]net[dot]ki.

]]> By: Tawita http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Tawita Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:41:11 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-469 Dear Gary I work for the Kiribati government, and I wanted to offer my apologies for the way you were treated yesterday. Please understand that this is not the way we want our visitors to be treated. We have had some recent issues with questionable travellers and all Immigration officers have been instructed to scrutinise visitors more carefully. I want to stress that this was in no way a veiled request for a bribe - that is not the way we do things in Kiribati (no matter how low our salaries). It would have been a genuine - if misguided - attempt by the Immigration Officer involved to do his job. This is not to excuse this particular individual's conduct however. You may be surprised to learn that we see very few tourists on Tarawa - maybe only one or two per flight, and there are only three flights per week. I will make sure that your experience is brought to the attention of the Principal Immigration Officer, and ask him to investigate. You may wish to contact him directly - his name is Elliot Ali, and his fax number is +686-21466, email . Best wishes with the rest of your journey. Dear Gary
I work for the Kiribati government, and I wanted to offer my apologies for the way you were treated yesterday. Please understand that this is not the way we want our visitors to be treated. We have had some recent issues with questionable travellers and all Immigration officers have been instructed to scrutinise visitors more carefully. I want to stress that this was in no way a veiled request for a bribe – that is not the way we do things in Kiribati (no matter how low our salaries). It would have been a genuine – if misguided – attempt by the Immigration Officer involved to do his job. This is not to excuse this particular individual’s conduct however. You may be surprised to learn that we see very few tourists on Tarawa – maybe only one or two per flight, and there are only three flights per week. I will make sure that your experience is brought to the attention of the Principal Immigration Officer, and ask him to investigate. You may wish to contact him directly – his name is Elliot Ali, and his fax number is +686-21466, email . Best wishes with the rest of your journey.

]]> By: Greg Bell http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Greg Bell Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:47:30 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-467 I bet that totally would have worked. 20 bucks is probably his monthly income. I bet that totally would have worked. 20 bucks is probably his monthly income.

]]> By: Ben Bayer http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Ben Bayer Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:27:18 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-466 "Well sir, I don't think that the ink is bleeding from this crisp green bill I have right here...." “Well sir, I don’t think that the ink is bleeding from this crisp green bill I have right here….”

]]> By: Gary http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Gary Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:23:29 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-465 I feel stupid Ben. I hadn't even considered that option until you mentioned it. I need to start thinking more Third World. I feel stupid Ben. I hadn’t even considered that option until you mentioned it. I need to start thinking more Third World.

]]> By: Ben Bayer http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Ben Bayer Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:20:53 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-464 Gary, God, that sucks. Maybe the BS guy just wanted to be bribed. Ben Gary,

God, that sucks. Maybe the BS guy just wanted to be bribed.

Ben

]]> By: Greg Bell http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Greg Bell Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:15:45 +0000 http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/08/03/access-denied/#comment-463 I can't imagine how you didn't start beating that man about his head. You would think that a country that makes 20% of their GDP from tourism would be a little more welcoming. I can’t imagine how you didn’t start beating that man about his head. You would think that a country that makes 20% of their GDP from tourism would be a little more welcoming.

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