Electronic ID and biometric database

 THE introduction of electronic iden­tification to create a national database is the most important step a PNG government has ever taken 

in the country’s history.

Many people do not understand how crucial it will be.

For the project to be successful, there are two important elements that have to be accommodated in 

the project.

They are awareness and legislation.

The awareness campaign will en­sure that every Papua New Guinean complies and cooperates with the people collecting data and understand its importance.

The legislation component will need to have an act of parliament 

to make it mandatory for all Papua New Guineans to have their names registered.

A neglect or ignorance in participation of the process will amount 

to a criminal offence.

This may be tough and radical 

but it has come to a point where we need to move forward in this glo­balise society.

This is one exercise, if done correctly, will solve so many problems we have in this country.

To explain how important it is, let me give some examples.

When we have an electronic database with our personal data in the system, this data will become available at all key government departments such as national planning, immigration, police, health, education, transport and labour, the IRC, national statistical office, Electoral Commission and other important institutions, many of our problems will be solved.

All the problems we have will 

be minimised because every Pa-

pua New Guinean will have their names, their finger prints which are unique to every person and their facial features recorded and stored 

on the database and no one will be 

able to fake anything.

Winston

Port Moresby