Caption: (R)
Governor Parkop, Miria Ikupu, Jim Andrews, and Honk Kiap inspecting the holding
cells.
Caption: Governor posing with other guests
By MATHEW VARI
ENFORCEMENT of the controversial betelnut ban in the nation’s
capital was reinforced on Monday with the official opening of the Buai Ban
Operations Centre, by NCD Governor Powes Parkop, at Tapot 4 Mile, Port Moresby.
The much talked about enforced penalties of the ban, will now
be fully implemented with the opening of the centre, which will not only host
law breakers of the ban, but also other offenders of the city’s various rules
and regulations.
Those present to witness the opening, included the Deputy
Governor and Motu Koita President Miria Ikupu, Deputy City Manager Honk Kiap,
Assistant Commander Police Jim Andrew, and Commisioners from NCDC.
The centre houses an office that will have police men and
women from the NCD reserve police unit, an interview rooms, and also adjoining
holding cells for both male and female offenders.
Deputy City manager and Chief Controller of the Buai Ban,
Honk Kiap told those present that the ban had not been fully implemented until
the centre was completed, which he said would give added teeth to the campaign
to control the chewing of the nut in the city.
“This is a continuation of our enforcement exercise, which
has been a big problem for us, because we did not have an office and structure
in place,” he said.
“It will cater for all enforcement activities for NCDC, and
the holding cells are only for those who have broken city rules and regulation.”
He reiterated that it was not a jail but a holding cell, and
those who find themselves in there will be held for a few hours for them to pay
their fines.
“Failure to pay fines will lead to arrest by police, and formal
charges will be laid,” he added.
Governor Parkop hailed the achievement of the enforcement
unit under the Kiap- saying that the city had the laws in place but lacked
efficient enforcement mechanisms.
“I would like to congratulate Mr Kiap and his management for
this achievement- it is essential as an authority we need to have the capacity to
enforce our laws,” the governor said.
“The commission has long being view as a paper tiger- because
we did not have the capacity people do not care much about what we say.”
“A lot of our people misinterpret the meaning of
independence, to live anyway they like without consequence and responsibility,
so we have to start doing this.”
The governor also reaffirmed that the whole exercise was not
only in response to the many international events scheduled for the city, but
was for the long term.
“We are not doing this only because of the SP Games and APEC
Summit- our people deserve a clean city that is peaceful and healthy for us,”
he added.
“If it helps to boost our image during those events then that
good to for us in the long run.”
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