The National Capital District will gradually start imposing the betelnut ban again in the city, but this time, it will be accompanied with the litter ban.
The ban comes in effect within the next few days, starting at the Boroko centre.
This decision is in line with the efforts to create a safe, healthy and clean city and uplift its image in terms of cleanliness and hygiene.
Following the ban review after the election, NCD has concluded that a total ban on betelnut is not the way forward for all stakeholders in the city, including both chewers and vendors.
The announcement made today is that the partial ban will be imposed only in public places and around shopping malls and commercial areas.
At the same time, NCD will identify retail and wholesale markets for vendors to use.
“After the election, I gave 6 months to vendors, chewers and suppliers to get their acts together while we reviewed the act,” said NCD Governor Powes Parkop.
“We've looked at this objectively - from all aspects - the vendors, chewers, suppliers, NCD regulators. We have concluded that a partial ban is the way forward.”
He said another review on this partial ban will follow in a month’s time.
In the meantime, guards from Corps Security will be deployed to work with regular and reserved NCD police to ensure positive outcomes are achieved as soon as possible.
Proper rubbish bins will be provided at the Boroko area for litter disposal, where they will be stationed every 20 meters. This should be in place by the end of next week.
Governor Parkop said the ban will start at Boroko and slowly rollout throughout the city.
“I'm not doing this just for APEC. We've been prosecuting the ban for years. Papua New Guineans don't seem to listen to polite conversation, so this is how we'll go, it's a win-win situation for all.
“This is to get the public more responsible and to dispose rubbish in a proper way,” he added.
Law breakers will pay a fine of K500, but this amount will also be reviewed.
Member for Moresby North-East, John Kaupa, was with the governor today for the announcement, pledging his support.
He said he is planning a stakeholders’ meeting to get the view of all those involved in betelnut vending, with the aim to establish a control mechanism and regulate the sales.
He said every vendor, both public and backyard, must have a licence.
(Moresby North-East MP, John Kaupa, with NCD Governor Powes Parkop)