21,000 in Western apply for ID card, birth certificate

MORE than 21,000 National Identification and birth certificate registrations were completed between July and December last year in Western, officials say.
The work was carried out in an agreement signed last between the Ok Tedi Mining Limited and PNG Civil and Identity Registry supported by Minister Richard Maru.
A team comprising community relations officers, registry supervisors and casual workers underwent a month’s training on the NID registration and data processes before starting work. They covered employees and residents at Tabubil town, the mine area landowners and communities along the Tabubil – Kiunga Highway, at a cost of K730,000.
Projects coordinator Ani Topurua said the trial helped to identify and resolve issues with the process “before we commenced the difficult phase of the project, covering villages in the Middle and South Fly regions some of which are remote and without reliable communication”.
“A number of applicants have yet to receive their NID cards and birth certificates due to incorrect information provided by the applicants. Other challenges include a slow vetting and approval process and delays in data transmission, processing, and printing.”
OTML managing director and chief executive officer Peter Graham said the company was happy to support “this important government initiative”.