National ID cards by later this year
THE national identification card is expected to be introduced later this year, says Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
While speaking at the closing of the Legal Aid Commission Corporate Workshop in Natadola yesterday, he said the identification cards would be a one-stop shop of information for every Fijian.
“One of the other initiatives that we hope to roll out in October this year is what we call the Fiji National Identification Card or FINIC.
“Every Fijian will have a unique identification card that will contain all their information.
“You will have your own card with your address details and biometrics of all 10 fingers and irises and a photograph of your face.
“What will happen is that only the card number should be known by you.
“At the back of your card is your FNPF number and TIN and even your driver’s licence. It will make life easier.
“It will also help you in your own day-to-day work where people can be assessed and we can easily check people’s details.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said a nationwide registration would be carried out for this program.
“So we hope within one year we will have registered more than 600,000 Fijians. We will carry out a nationwide registration.
“We will be able to share data. We will be able to know where to provide necessary services and identify where the lowincome earning areas are so we could go and provide ample services.
“If there is a cyclone, we will be able to know where we could provide relief assistance.
“So these are initiatives that we hope will make lives of Fijians better.”
He said the program was part of Government’s Digital Fiji program.