Betel nut ban in Port Moresby

 

The scrounge that is Buai

 

 

 

 

 

Papua New Guinea is imposing a total ban on the sale of betel nut in the capital Port Moresby from Jan 1 to counter the negative impact of betel nut chewing and spitting.

The move comes after a partial ban was introduced late last year when betel nut could only be sold at wholesale markets in the city.
Port Moresby's Governor, Powes Parkop told Pacific Beat the impact of the ban has "exceeded expectations" and the city is already looking much better.
"I am very pleased with the outcome, people have responded well," he said.
"But still there is some section of the population who keep on becoming a nuisance to everyone else.
"The temporary markets that we allow, we have to shut it down now because it pose some challenges as well in terms of containing the negative impact of betal nut chewing and spitting."'
Mr Parkop says people who do not abide by the new rules will be fined or made to perform two hours of community service. If not, they can be arrested and charged.
"Betel nut chewing is not done on a customary basis anymore, it is purely commercial and people are chewing 24/7 and that is why it has become a problem. If it was purely a customary practice, we won't have a problem, but now it has become purely commercial," he said.
"Eventually they will get used to the idea of driving out of the city and enjoying the betel nut outside of the city. Our people should not think too much about it... it's not we're depriving them totally and absolutely of the enjoyment of the betel nut.
"Some of them should get another life. They shouldn't give excuse. They are using those points as an excuse to leave our city with filth and ugly images and health problems."

ABC Radio

First posted Wed 1 Jan 2014, 8:27am AEDT

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Reasons to Visit PNG in 2014

Huli Wigman

Why? A land of thriving tribal cultures, smouldering volcanoes and vast swathes of pristine mountainous rainforest, Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last great frontiers and remains largely untouched by mass tourism. Hundreds of islands lie north and east of the mainland, with sparkling white-sand beaches, coral reefs and verdant jungles teeming with wildlife. The magnificent plumage and outrageous courtship displays of the islands’ birds of paradise - two-thirds of the country’s flora and fauna species are endemic - along with numerous species of tree kangaroo, spine-covered echidnas and huge flightless birds such as the cassowary, will delight birdwatchers and nature-lovers alike.

Travelling through this rugged country offers countless opportunities to interact with Papuans, from staying in rainforest villages to witnessing a “sing-sing”, colourful traditional festivals in which warriors don elaborate headdresses and chant to the rhythmic pounding of drums. Papua New Guinea was part of the British Empire in the late 19th century and subsequently administered by Australia (from 1906-75). It is also home to a number of Second World War sites. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of Australian “diggers” (who heroically held off a Japanese ground invasion) on the challenging Kokoda Track, or visit a former Japanese submarine base near Rabaul, where the shells of fighter aircraft still lie half-buried in the jungle. Those who crave truly intrepid travel have the opportunity to scale 4,000m peaks, surf big waves off largely empty beaches, or explore little-known dive sites. Diverse, colourful and extreme, this is an island nation like no other.

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