The widely speculated
National Identification (NID) System introduced by the government is for the
betterment of our young nation and should not be seen as an obstruction of our
Christian faith.
This can all be clearly
summed up by the researchers at (NRI) one in particular would be Esther
Lavu
(A Researcher at the National Research
Institute.).
At a personal level, this database will prevent
identity theft. More importantly, the identity will provide identity
verification for employment, opening a new bank account and using an electronic
travel ticketing. The e-ID card becomes a form of formal identification
and will be universally acceptable.
Experiences from other countries show that people
enrol in a national population databases are issued with a unique number that
is linked to only one individual. This unique number is linked to his personal information
and no one else can use his identity for benefits. This is one way of reducing
widespread corruption at the lowest level.
Generally, the national e-ID card system
will address the lack of secured, simple and universal method for citizen
identification. When the national e-ID system is fully established and
is in operation, PNG will own a centralised live central database of all its
citizens. This will reduce the duplication of efforts and resources in data
collection by various government agencies.
However, it is important that the e-ID is
standardised rather than a one-off process.
The national e-ID card system is the
identification service that will facilitate requirements for the government and
private service providers. For example, the information from the Population
Information Management System or PIMS will help PNG Electoral Commission to
check and verify their voting population numbers as there is an increasing
demand for inclusion in the Electoral role. The health planners will also use
the numbers to plan for future immunisation programs so that all females in the
ages of 15-45 can be vaccinated.
PNG e-ID card system
The aim is to enrol every Papua New Guinea (PNG)
citizen in a computerised national population database, which will be known as
the Population Information Management System. The PIMS will contain the
identity information for all PNG living citizens. From the PIMS, eligible citizens
will be issued with a citizen identification card (e-ID cards). The ID
card with a photo of a face will be linked to biometrics of finger print scans
and individual information. A person’s identity includes name, address, date of
birth, gender, parent/guardian details and other information.
This is a development driven project that will
support the government’s electronic governance system (e-governance).
The e-governance is linking all national databases and only authorised
groups can trace information in all relevant databases kept by the government.
Although a number of electronic government databases exist, they are not linked
in any way.
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| PM with Minister's Abel and Gore to officiate the launching of the NID office at Waigani, NCD. |
The system that must support an individual’s formal
identification is the Civil Registration System. The registration of events
such as births, deaths and marriages form an important database that can assist
government and private entities. However, this government program registered
only a fraction of the population. Others included in the minority are those
employed in the formal workforce with issued work ID cards. The identity gap
between those with formal identity and those with no formal identification is
increasingly recognised as not only a sign of underdevelopment but as a reason
that make development more difficult and less inclusive.
To help people with no formal identifications,
there are programs in PNG that provide individuals with some official identity
in the context of delivery of a particular service. The PNG telecommunication
sector has introduced a cash transfer via the mobile phones system. The banking
systems have also introduced identity free banking services for the citizens.
Currently no fees are attached to the initiative but it is likely that in the
long run, fees will be imposed to continue the administration of such services.
The e-ID card system is important for the people as it will be fee free and
will be beneficial in many ways.
Additionally, the national e-ID card system
is a tool for development planning and service delivery. The government and the
other partners must work together to strengthen the on-going PNG e-ID
card system once it is established. By supporting the PNG e-ID cards
system, the ID cards issued from the PNG e-ID card system will eliminate
the different requirements demanded by various government and private agencies.
However, the privacy protection is a top priority
in building the foundation of PIMS so that individual’s identity is protected.
Citizens will provide personal information and it is the responsibilities of
the government to safe guard their personal identity. Mass disclosure of
information must remain strictly to only authorised groups. An individual can
exercise discretion and disallow the disclosure of your personal information
for certain purposes.
It is of great value that the government is
creating the national e-ID system which will serve as the identity
service provider. It is planning this service against the challenge of many
unhappy people who have not benefited from basic services. But the current
government approach of increased funding towards sub-national levels is an
indication of improved provisions of services. The co-operation and support of
the sub national level governments and the partners are essential in creating
the PNG e-ID system.
By Esther Lavu (Esther
Lavu is a Research Fellow, and leader of the Population Research program at the
National Research Institute.)
