Police consider banning sugar, yeast in Northern

National

By HELEN TARAWA
THE sale of sugar and yeast may be banned in Northern following increased cases of homebrew production and consumption, police commander Chief Inspector Lincoln Gerari says.
He said police were handicapped without logistical support and with the increased number of law and order cases related to homebrew, they had no choice but to seek approval to take this action.
“I will be writing to the Chamber of Commerce and business houses in Popondetta to seek their view on this because regardless of my countless number of awareness on radio and media, people continue to produce homebrew,” Gerari said.
“The main substances used for homebrew production is sugar and yeast and if we can stop these products in the province, then we could save some lives.
“Already, we have reported seven murder cases all linked to homebrew consumption so we are treating this matter seriously.”
He said police vehicles were still grounded due to lack of funding for servicing which made it difficult for them to attend to cases immediately.
Gerari said police lacked manpower and logistics and if this continued, then crime in the province would escalate.
“I’m frustrated with the situation we have in Popondetta and we don’t know how long this will be going on for,” he said.
“We were informed that there would be support coming from the Government and our provincial leaders but to date we have not received anything.”
Gerari said Governor Gary Juffa had made a commitment to assist with purchasing a vehicle and offsetting the outstanding service bill for police vehicles but they were still waiting for the governor to fulfil his commitment. He said Ijivitari MP David Arore had also made a commitment to assist with the Kikiri police post to cater for policing along the Northern-Morobe border.
Recently, Sohe MP and Community Development Minister Delilah Gore pledged to buy a police vehicle and an ambulance.
They had acknowledged her support and hoped that would be forthcoming to boost police to curb crime in the province.