Census materials worth over K15 million destroyed by fire
The delayed PNG Population and Housing Census will be the most expensive ever, after the materials procured was destroyed by fire in the recent unrest on January 10.
National Statistical Office [NSO], one of the state agencies under the radar of the new ministry of administrative services, will now have to reorder the materials with new funding from the national government.
Minister responsible, Richard Masere confirmed that “total value of materials destroyed was K15.2 million by arsonist when they [put fire] to the [Post PNG] storage facility at Konedobu,” during the Port Moresby city wide lawlessness on 10th January.
“Now we have a challenge to make sure all the materials are procured again; we have to go through the normal tender processes. I am confident under the leadership of the prime minister and myself, we will achieve the national census in 2024,” Mr Masere said.
Prime Minister James Marape has already issued an instruction to Mr Masere to promptly commence the groundwork for the 2024 National Census because “there has been no proper census done in 2010 and 2020, resulting in no one knowing the actual population figure of PNG.”
“By the end of this year, at the earliest by September 16, there must be preliminary data reflecting the actual population of our country. We will align the 2024 National Census with the common roll update, laying the groundwork for the 2027 National Election,” Mr Marape said.
The Administrative Services Minister understands his task on hand, “the appointment of the ministry primary role, number is to deliver our national census, last done in 2011.”
Mr Masere is confident the long delayed national census will be held in 2024, despite the burning of the materials.
“I will be pushing the voice on the floor in the national parliament and also in the national executive council.
“We going to talk to State Solicitor, Attorney General, National Procurement Commission management to see how best we can work without breaking the law, we ensure that we procure the materials in a shorter period of time, so we do not delay the census. “