Deal with actors in sexual immorality
THE Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr Allan Marat recently accused nightclubs of contributing towards social and moral decadence as well as the spread of HIV/AIDS.
They should be banned, he said.
Three years ago, the MP for Rabaul declared that moves to legalise prostitution and adult entertainment centres might be considered unconstitutional, a claim congruent with the current jurisprudence of the country.
However, some politicians want prostitution to be legalised, arguing that it can help reduce rape and the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Perhaps, at this stage, we shall raise a simple question.
Will banning nightclubs and legalising prostitution really help to reduce the HIV/AIDS risk in PNG?
The answer is simply no.
There are many influences that have engulfed the social and moral fabric of our society, including nightclubs and prostitution.
Despite much discussion, we still do not have a solution to the issues.
For many people, the disintegration of social and moral values is inconsequential, and they may advocate economic values and relativist doctrines as the basis for their argument.
For instance, an MP said girls in Port Moresby were making a living from prostitution, and suggested that the sex trade be outlawed.
Likewise, nightclubs are purported to be places where those girls find their clients.
In Mt Hagen, sex workers protested to the media after police raided their brothel.
They complained that they had lost income.
Thus, reasons do vary from those who want to maintain social order and moral decency to those who see it as a relief to economic deficiency.
More disturbing are
the corrupt hedonists (pleasure-seekers) out to prey on women.
For instance, poor families in the cities are sometimes compelled to let their mothers and daughters work in the sex trade.
Indeed, they do not need nightclubs, laws, or morals to determine what is regarded as livelihood activity.
The fear of HIV/AIDS is far removed, and if a person offers a huge sum for sex without a condom, so be it.
For the poor, the choice is sometimes very clear: refrain and die of starvation or take the chance (survive or contract HIV).
The devil is there at each turn.
On the other hand, there are people, usually male, employed either in the public or the private sectors.
They receive good salaries and after paying for the expenses, still have plenty of money to throw around.
They want to have fun with ladies, offer them alcohol, tobacco and you know where it all ends up.
They are careless about other considerations in trying to satisfy their alluring lust.
They are in actual fact the corrupt guys who have no sense of moral.
What is frightening is that most of them are elites of this country.
Then there is the third group of people who are not concerned about people’s welfare, health and living standards.
They are the entrepreneurs of nightclubs and hotels operating unofficially as brothels.
Their exclusive interest is to make money out of people’s desires, economic vulnerability and moral corruptibility.
With them, there is no free lunch.
Even if they are directly responsible for your eventual death from AIDS, they will not have the courtesy to lay a wreath on your grave.
They are the ungrateful suckers of your daily sweat, people with no human sense but totally money infatuated, the kind of people our government give priority over it own citizens.
Other given scenarios would have Dr Marat shocked.
Sex huts are found in all settlements in our major cities.
In other places, sex huts have bush snippets barely covered.
It is also possible that a number of homes in the city are used for such activities which help to contribute to the rental or put some food on the table.
In most cases, if not all, those involved are those who are unable to earn a decent living through normal means.
Despite the increase in sexual promiscuity and its seemingly irrepressible nature, Dr Marat’s intention is a noble one in wanting to restore social and moral order in society.
I suggest three measures.
First, non-income earning families living in slums of our cities must be encouraged to move to places where they can make a decent living and be economically sufficient.
Rural development must be given priority to make this exodus viable.
In the National Capital District, Motu-Koitabu people must be given loyalty payment for land the state usurped for some decent living.
These aborigines have already crammed the little space left, while many are living in virtual destitution.
The same may be true for other growing cities and towns where local landlords lack basic necessities, which force them to engage in illegal activities.
Second, there is a great need to resolve the behavioural conflict found among many of the public servants, especially when it comes to the issue of sexual immorality.
For instance, a senior employee of the National AIDS Council was reported to have abducted a girl for sex purposes.
When his behaviour was questioned, he replied that it was his personal affair and had nothing to do with the council.
Then one MP was found with a schoolgirl in his car, both apparently naked.
Perhaps an abrupt conclusion is that many public employees may not have aligned their personal craving with organisational values, an urgent and controllable task for Dr Marat to consider.
Perhaps, an integrity act of public employees should be given some thought as well.
Finally, there are certain expatriates who do not share any decency and value systems with Melanesians.
They are involved in prostitution, child abuse, pornography and other morally-corrupt acts.
Women were used in a small town in Western Highlands to produce pornography with some foreigners.
Recently, in East New Britain, it was discovered that an Australian employed as a teacher had been making sex films with local girls.
Indeed, there exists the need for expatriate entrepreneurs, volunteers, missionaries, contract workers to undergo some orientation to sacred Melanesian values before their engagement.
Ultimately, it all boils down to our politicians demonstrating discernment and prudence in dealing with complex issues.
Otherwise, offering cheap strategies would only be counter-productive.
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