Papua New Guinea's Wau-Waria MP Hon. Marsh Narewec is urging the government to increase its reliance on data and technology as Papua New Guinea gears up for its upcoming census. Narewec stressed the importance of a strong information communication system for the census's success.
Narewec criticized the current methods of data collection and ICT procurement as outdated and inefficient. "Our current system needs major reform. We are not taking advantage of available opportunities because our agencies are operating in isolation, which is hindering our national progress," he stated.
He emphasized the need to overhaul the system with a focus on transparency and better governance in ICT procurement. Narewec expressed concerns about the impact of current procurement practices on the local ICT sector and stressed the importance of competitive bidding processes that follow best practices.
"Transparency is essential to avoid suspicions of corruption and mismanagement. Public funds should be used efficiently to deliver value for money," Narewec insisted. He called for a detailed cost breakdown and a comparison with local market rates to ensure expenditures are justified.
To build public trust, Narewec demanded the immediate release of detailed procurement information and called for an independent audit to ensure accountability.
He also advocated for the decentralization of data collection, suggesting that Provincial Governments, District Development Authorities (DDAs), and Local Level Governments (LLGs) be given responsibility for this task. "Decentralizing data collection will ensure more accurate and comprehensive data. These local bodies are already funding census preparatory work, so it makes sense to formalize their responsibility and improve accountability," Narewec explained.
Narewec highlighted the potential of the ICT sector, particularly digital MSMEs, to drive innovation. "Local SMEs within our ICT cluster have the capability to develop and implement the necessary technologies. However, the government's reluctance to support indigenous Papua New Guinean SMEs in the digital space is puzzling," he remarked.
He emphasized the need for reliable internet connectivity and urged the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) to expedite licensing for providers like Starlink. "Reliable internet is crucial for the efficient synchronization of data collected on android tablets to a central data center," Narewec noted.
Narewec stressed the importance of establishing a secure and accessible data storage solution for census data. "A secure data storage system is imperative to ensure data utility and protection against unauthorized access or breaches," he concluded.
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