Thursday, 22 October 2015

Ikupu urges villages to respect ban


Caption:   (L) Miria Ikupu and Powes Parkop



By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)




CHAIRMAN of the Motu Koita assembly Mira Ikupu, has called on all Motu-Koita villages to abide by the betelnut ban currently being enforced by the National Capital District Commission.

He made those remarked during the commissioning of the Buai Ban Operations Centre, on Monday.

He said that as the assembly’s chairman, he supported the move by the commission, stating that the nut was been commercialized too much beyond its true traditional use.

“The buai ban must be enforced to keep the city clean and safe for all residents.”

“It is something that is traditionally a gift, representing sharing among people to connect and maintain relationship.”

“Now it has been commercialized to a point where it has lost this significance that has been practiced by our four fathers for generations.”

He added that there needed to be some control as when not properly consumed it became an eyesore and health hazard.

“I call on the Motu-Koita villages to comply with the law and I fully endorse the ban, and if there has to be a whole approach to making it work- it has to start with the Motu-Koita villages.”

He also called on dinghy operators ferrying in the illegal nut by sea to cease their activity- especially those using dinghies that were given by the city commission.


“If you are one of those using those dinghies, we will catch you and confiscate them as they are not being used for the purpose they given for, which is for fishing,” he said.   

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