Is banning betelnut the answer to a clean Port Moresby City?

By JASON GIMA WURI

Finally NCD Governor Powes Parkop is putting up a ban on the country’s most beloved traditional betelnut here in the nation’s capital Port Moresby.
A favourite past time for many who are great chewers of this special nut which is culturally intertwined.

Enough is said, it’s time now for action as Governor Parkop attempts to clean and beautify the capital.

They are proposing for betel nut trade to take place up at Laloki for both wholesale and retail, it's like telling a fish to climb a tree- that’s not even an alternative in any sense.

Governor Parkop really thinks banning betel nut will make the city clean? There are too many other things that makes the city dirty, putting the blame on betel nut sellers is like people saying every skinny people has Aids- Aids is not the only reason people lose weight, likewise, betel nut is not the only cause of rubbish & filth in the city.
Economic implication can be summarized as a break down in the informal sector- People will have less money to spend, money supply and circulation will be affected and this will have a direct influence on daily trade by small businesses, from PMVs and taxis to trade stores. Basically, it will have a ripple effect across Port Moresby’s economy
The idea of banning betelnut is widely supported. But there are two sides of everything;  yes the city will gradually be cleaned of all the filth that the chewing of betelnut produces. But there is the great danger of people resorting to criminal means of sustaining their lively hood.
This would be a bigger problem for everybody, especially mothers who have only this means to support their families. I see many young people, especially boys, getting involved in this business, which is the cheapest and quickest way for them, and also keeps them busy and off the street.

The ban should only target the public areas like, shop fronts, tucker shops, office areas, market places etc, they should only allow people to sell in the boundaries of their residence and every vendor should provide a bin or plastic for their customers to throw their rubbish, or spit into.

Yes the wholesale of betelnut should be taken away from the vicinity of the city boundaries!
Personally I have no problems with betelnut ban. I think its a good idea, but I have problem with it, when it is being mooted and driven by a politician. I would prefer to see the idea be driven by the City Hall Executives, with full backing of the NCDC Full Board of Commission.
As a resident and taxpayer, I have a right to know why the ban is in place, and how much is going to take to manage the ban. I have a right to know the impact of the ban will have on cost of living, unemployment, law and order and issues.
I need to know whether this issue has been fully debated by the NCDC Full Board of Commission, and the general public.  Has the institution and its members on the Board given the opportunity to debate it?
I need to know what the Central Province will have a say on this matter, and more, what kind of effect it will have on the Central Province GST.
I am not satisfied this issues were considered when the decision to ban the betelnut/buai was made. I feel NCDC Management do not have any information on the ban apart from it being an idea prompted by a politician.
Very interesting that Governor Parkop has taken to both print and television ads announcing the betelnut/buai ban but has done nothing to educate people on being responsible. It all boils down to attitude. Ban anything has never stopped anything it only drives it underground. Buai is not the only thing Papua New Guineans fail to dispose of correctly.
Both sides in this debate for and against banning of Betelunut/Buai by Governor Powes Pakop in NCD make sense.

Of course it’s sickening to see bettlenut stains and rubbish all over the city. Most of the betenut traders are themselves filthy looking and have no regard for health and hygiene. As a non chewer I feel sick, seeing buai stains, rubbish and filthy sellers, just imagine how visitors, tourist and other none chewers think.
However, some negative implications to bettlenut banning in NCD are:

1. The betelnut growers of Gulf and Central province numbering over 10, 000 will be hard hit. It is their major cash crop and Port Moresby is their main or the only market.
2: About a 1000 PMV owners and operators of Gulf and Central will be affected. The main pmv passengers are betelnut growers and traders. Many of the pmvs who are currently servicing bank loans will obviously be affected. The regular transportion of villagers, teachers, students and store goods etc to parts of Central and Gulf will be distrupted.
3: The betelnut sellers of NCD will lose income.
4: Affect the income of yard owners, like in gerehu 24 hour market.
5: Affect chewers who are addicted to buai.
6: Increase in smuggling of betelnut, endangering lives and creating illegal sales and skyrocketing of buai/daka prices etc.

Some of us hate betelnut in this city yet lots of lives will be affected due to the ban. If the main aim of this buai ban is to stop rubbish and to prevent spread of TB then, NCDC has failed or hasn't exhausted all alternatives.
Some alternatives NCDC should consider are as followers:

1. Install rubbish bins (drum) 100meters apart along all roads and streets in NCD.
2. Sellers to pay fee and be properly registered and issued license to sell at designated locations. Income from fees to pay city rangers.
3: Make it compulsory for small paper packets to be sold together with betelnut to buyers for chewers to spit into and later dispose into bins provided.
4: NCDC to impose hefty fines (K100- K1000) or 6months or more jail term for spitting and littering.
5: Empower and reward city rangers and all other NCD residents to report and catch those that carelessly litter the city.
6: Instruct sellers to ensure their designated market areas are kept clean or else they lose their selling license and punished.
7: The sellers and city rangers must be properly dressed and clean at all times.
But if the ban goes ahead, we will see an increase in;
1. Stealing (Pickpocket, billum/bag snatching, break & enter, shop lifting)
2.Prostitution
3.Marijuana and alcohol trade to increase
4.Gambling- Horse racing and Pokies to Illegal Gambling- Card and Bingo in the local community
5.Brewing and consumption of homebrew.

Powes Pakop must not rush into banning betelnut because it will have adverse negative implications.

Betelnut is not the only product causing rubbish. Plastics, bottles, smoke buds, bear bottles, papers, empty can, waste foods, dead dogs, leaves, old trucks, oil spills etc, are all forms of rubbish that NCDC must address and regulate together with betelnut.

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