Moka: Penalties apply as of Nov 1

Caption Pic 3:  Honk Kiap and Terrence Moka speaking to the media

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 3, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NCDC Buai Ban Controller, Terrence Moka, announced the beginning of the application of the Betelnut Control Law penalties as of the November 1, that were put in place by the National Capital District Commission.

Present at the passing out of reserve police officers from the commission, Mr Moka said that the officers that had passed out to become reserve policemen and women were to police the law. 

He applauded the actions of many residents who have adhered to the ban, reminding them to maintain their efforts.

“We want to remind our citizens, they have been very good to us in the first phase of the buai ban.”

“We started with the soft approach and it was more or less reminding people and telling them you are not to sell buai in the city.”

“The residents have been very good to us, if you can see now the city is very clean- petty crimes have dropped since we started.”

“It is very simple; you just have to do the right thing- don’t sell in public places and do not chew in public places,” he said.

He referred to reports of residents whom he said were trying to be smart and continued to chew and sell discreetly, which he warned that the law would catch up with them.

With the passing out of NCDC’s own reserve policemen and women, Moka said that they now had the manpower to fully implement the law.

“We have already established our network, with an enforcement unit- that will operate more or less in the sense that once somebody tells us someone is selling buai at a house, they will call us and the unit will come and arrest that particular person.”

“You can enjoy your buai, but you make sure you do so in the confines of your home.”

He added that the main persistent offenders were intelligent, well educated people who were the ones that broke the law.

“The city is very clean why can’t we keep it that way.”

“Enforcement units will be setting up roadblocks outside the city, and vehicles carrying buai will be directed to the designated markets in the city while construction is still underway for the markets to be setup outside the city.”    

Deputy City Manager and Reserve Police Sergeant, Honk Kiap warned all motorist who carried passengers that were chewing within moving vehicles and spitting out in public places.

“Vehicle owners when your passengers are chewing in the vehicle, you have to ensure that they do not spit out.”

“If they spit out in public they will be charged a K300 fine, and the owner of the vehicle that entertains that person will be charged a K1000 fine just for carrying the chewer on the vehicle.”

“Most of our enforcement unit are going underground to become the eyes and ears of the commission- they will be getting number plates of vehicles, or even photo shots of the actions you are taking and give to police to come and apprehend them.”

Those he said were persistent to defy the law must at all times have a K1000 or K300 with them to pay for something he said was unnecessary.

“The K300 could be used to do something worthwhile and don’t let it go for chewing only a K1.00 betelnut.”

“From today onwards there won’t be any warning; there won’t be any mercy or awareness- we will just go to arrest and charge”.

Kiap said that it was unnecessary for him as a person or a public servant to sit in the office and then be out on the streets to be a reserve police officer running after people, however, added that the attitude of people was such that it forced him to come out of his comfort zone.