|
Sports |
Regulate betelnut as a social drug
AS the minister responsible for a
wide range of social development issues, I support the NCD
governor’s call to control the sale of betelnut for several
reasons:
*Hygiene and cleanliness of our urban areas – betelnut spit
spreads diseases and is also a disgusting sight in our towns and
cities;
*Health – the recent Oral Health Symposium has clearly outlined
health problems that many of us were not aware of in addition to
the fact that chewing of betelnut with lime can cause mouth
cancer;
*Law and order – the link between group selling of betelnut and
law and order problems has clearly been demonstrated in Moresby
South. In addition, the betelnut sections of markets are often
the sections that also sell marijuana and homebrew such as
“steam”. It is the area that some unemployed young people “hang
around” waiting for opportunities to snatch bilums, etc; and;
*The Informal Sector Development and Control Act, which I have
championed has suffered a lot of
criticism because of betelnut. The informal economy is huge in
Papua New Guinea – betelnut is only one item sold in that sector
but it is
spoiling the image of the informal sector.
For 10 years, Moresby South programmes have encouraged sellers
to learn new skills and not just sell betelnut but many show no
interest in diversifying their skills.
If people refuse to change and cooperate with authorities as has
been the case, then regulations must be changed to force the
situation. My recommendations for public consideration include:
*Within the city, no selling of betelnut in large groups or main
markets and no selling of betelnut in major public places;
*Betelnut allowed to be sold near residential areas by mobile
traders and in font of houses or in officially designated
approved areas as long as there is no complaint from residents;
*Buyers are not allowed to chew at the place of sale;
*As with alcohol and cigarettes, selling of betelnut to a child
(under 18 years) or using children as sellers should be strongly
discouraged;
*Customs such as children chewing betelnut for their
grandparents should be discouraged as
it results in addiction at an early
age;
*Betelnut should clearly be recognised as a social drug like
cigarettes and alcohol and regulated accordingly; and,
*A massive public education campaign on social and illegal drug
abuse is needed.
Dame Carol Kidu
Community Development Minister
 
|
