Prime Minister Peter O'Neill rolls out national ID program in Southern Highlands

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill has launched the national identification program roll-out in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province today. The Prime Minister was accompanied by National Planning Minister Charles Abel, Governor William Powi and several other Ministers of State.

Mr Abel made this known during Question Time in Parliament last Friday when responding to questions surrounding the legality of the exercise. Morobe Governor Kelly Naru said the nationwide national identification program and the Lae biometric systems conducted in Lae are threatening to violate certain fundamental rights of citizens of this country, guaranteed by the Constitution – the right to privacy and confidentiality.

"Can you tell this house, under what constitutional and legal basis is this identification process being rolled out, what is the constitutional and legal basis for this exercise?" Mr Naru asked.

In response, Mr Abel said PNG lacks good statistics and data to fully understand the demographics of the country, movement of people and others that had hampered development plans.

He said there are reforms at the National Statistical Office to get the census up-to-date, the CPI figures, the household income and expenses report, as well as the GDP and business activity survey to get actual GDP information.

"This is part of a broader exercise by the Government to once and for all get our statistic accurate and updated," Mr Abel said.

He said the Government acknowledged individual rights but there is also fundamental rights to housing, education, health and others that the country is struggling to deliver.

"In order to do that best you need an accurate population information management system."