20/08/2024
The Ten-Years Journey: Pombra's Struggle for an NID Card.
Pombra hailed from the small village of Rumamuddies, nestled in the fertile greenish highlands of Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. His journey to obtain an NID card was a saga that would stretch over a decade, testing his patience, resolve, and spirit.
At 32, Pombra had dreams as vast as the mountains that surrounded his village. He wanted to start a small business—a trade store that would bring much-needed goods to his community. But there was one thing standing in his way: he needed an NID card to secure a loan. Without it, his dreams were like clouds drifting just out of reach, always there but never quite attainable. The NID card was supposed to be his key to unlocking these dreams, but instead, it became a symbol of a journey fraught with delays and disappointment.
In 2014, Pombra began the NID process. He filled out the application form, posed for his passport-sized photo, and pressed all ten fingers into the ink pad for his fingerprints. An elder from Rumamuddies vouched for his identity, and with all the necessary documents in hand, he was given a small receipt—a number that would supposedly lead him to his NID card. Little did he know, that receipt would stay with him for the next ten years, becoming a tattered reminder of the system that seemed designed to grind him down.
Every few months, Pombra would make the trek to the NID Haus in Mt. Hagen, hoping to finally receive his card. Each visit, however, ended in disappointment. “It’s not ready yet. Come back later,” they would say, their words like echoes bouncing off the walls of bureaucracy. The receipt, once a symbol of hope, became a worn relic of a process that seemed endless—a bitter token of time wasted.
As the years dragged on, Pombra became the subject of mockery in his village. "Kange, NID Kornga nee titin muna mon, pana rak omb punum e kaa?" they would taunt in Melpa, the local dialect. "Man, did you get your NID already? It took you ages!" Their words stung like nettles, reminding Pombra of his helplessness in the face of a system that moved at a glacial pace. Each time he was mocked, it felt like salt was being rubbed into a wound that refused to heal.
Pombra watched as others received their NID cards quickly, thanks to knowing the right people in the office or slipping some "side money" to grease the wheels. But Pombra had neither connections nor extra cash to speed up the process. He was just a simple man from Rumamuddies, lost in a system where those without influence were left to fend for themselves. The process was like a river where only those who knew the secret paths could navigate swiftly, while Pombra was left stranded on the banks, watching the current carry away his dreams.
The consequences of not having an NID card began to pile up. Three years into his wait, Pombra missed a golden opportunity. His friends Kang Kai and Pora were headed to Port Moresby, a trip that would have opened new horizons for Pombra. But when he tried to board the Air Niugini flight, he was denied a boarding pass because he had no form of identification. The sight of the plane taking off without him was a sharp reminder of the opportunities slipping through his fingers.
Even before that, Pombra had escorted three tourists around Mt. Hagen, proudly showing them the beauty of his homeland. They were so impressed by his knowledge and hospitality that they promised to take him with them on their next trip down south. But once again, the lack of an NID card held him back. Without it, he couldn’t apply for a passport, and the promise of travel turned to dust in his hands. The lost opportunities piled up like stones in his heart, each one adding to the burden he carried.
As the years passed, Pombra’s frustration turned to bitterness. The NID card he needed to secure a loan, to travel, to start the business he had dreamed of—it all seemed further away than ever. By the time he turned 40, the stress had taken a toll on his health. He grew tired, not just physically but emotionally, too. His spirit, once as strong as the mountains of Kolgngi and Mambla, was eroded by the relentless wait.
At 42, after ten long years, Pombra made what he thought might be his last trip to the NID Haus. His steps were slower, his hope almost gone. But this time, something different happened. The clerk behind the counter pulled out a card with his name on it. It was his NID card, finally ready after a decade of waiting. But instead of joy, Pombra felt a deep sadness wash over him. The card in his hand was not just a piece of plastic; it was a testament to the years he had lost, to the dreams that had withered in the wait.
He thought of all the things he could have done if he had received the card sooner—the business he could have started, the places he could have traveled, the opportunities that had passed him by. Each thought was like a knife, cutting deeper into the wound that the NID process had left on his soul.
As he walked back to Rumamuddies, Pombra couldn’t shake the feeling that the system had stolen a decade of his life. The NID card was in his hand, but the years were gone, lost to the slow grind of bureaucracy. The dreams that had once driven him were now just distant memories, overshadowed by the bitter reality of his experience. Pombra’s journey to get an NID card had finally come to an end, but the victory was hollow. The man who returned to Rumamuddies was not the same one who had set out ten years earlier. The system had taken its toll, and the dreams that had once seemed so close were now out of reach, leaving Pombra with a card in his hand and a heavy heart.
Written by Ezekiel Konia
The story brings attention to the frustratingly slow and inefficient process of obtaining an NID card in Papua New Guinea. It sheds light on how such delays can prevent people from accessing essential services, pursuing opportunities, and participating fully in society.
Overall, the story serves as both a critique and a call to action, urging improvements in how essential services are delivered to the people of Papua New Guinea. It emphasizes the importance of efficient, fair, and timely processes in enabling individuals to achieve their aspirations and contribute to society.
