New technology for Censorship Board

THE Censorship Board of Papua New Guinea has been equipped with the  state-of-the-art information communication technology and database system that could help in educating the public and monitoring contents of material entering PNG. 
This was  followed by the successful implementation process as part of the development project for censorship database by the Department for Community Development (DFCD).
DFCD Minister Dame Carol Kidu, when officially launching the project last Friday, described the introduction of the new censorship ICT system as “highly innovative project that would greatly improve the efficiency of the office”.
“The work of the Censorship board was important but had never been funded or recognised to the level where it was supposed to be.
“With the changes that are taking place in terms of the transmission of information and the accompanying change in ICT products, the functions of the board and office of censorship are taking new dimension,” Dame Carol said.
The change calls for new approaches to defining censorship and the need to develop new strategies on how best they could handle the types of information that was transmitted and produced for public consumption, she added.
She acknowledged the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for giving K1 million to set up the database and the ensuing K2 million for extending the project to the provinces.
Dame Carol also commended local consultants, the NGI Technologies, for the successful completion of   phase one of the project.
The censorship database programme was divided into two phases and was in preparation for the third phase, pending the censorship board’s ICT Policy’s approval.
“We have already implemented the infrastructure and database  system and are hoping to link all international air and sea ports including regional offices and border provinces by next July,” Mr Lapun said.