Some of Papua New Guinea’s most remote villages have been registered by the National Identity Project (NID) thanks to Frieda River Limited (FRL).
The NID is a registry office that records births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions in PNG.
The goal of the department is to have every PNG citizen accounted for, recognised and given mandatory individual identity to contribute to the country’s national building and citizenship.
In early January, FRL arranged for NID officers to visit its Frieda River mine site and then onto the remote villages of Sokamin, Wameimin 1 and 2, Amaromin, Ok Isai, and Wabia.
The drive saw over 2300 people registered, with those over 18 undercoming biometric testing and receiving NID cards. The registration will allow these individuals to participate in state-led processes like the creation of landowner associations near mine sites.
“Accessing the seven villages in our project footprint is no easy feat,” FRL country manager Joel Hamago said. “The only way to reach them is by helicopter, canoe or on foot, with days of trekking between each location.
“The company helicopter was used to overcome this challenge.”
Hamago said FRL is proud to support the NID process, something that is vital for the next stage of Frieda River’s development, and that despite the challenging terrain and weather, the registration was completed in less than two weeks.
Residents of the villages expressed their gratitude for the scheme and said they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the NID cards.
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