A great initiative gone off-track

ALLEGATIONS of harassment by the National Capital District Commission Enforcement Unit and police in Port Moresby continues to be major cause for concern.
The latest being the alleged beating of a betel nut seller by police officers that led to his death on the country’s 44th Independence Anniversary.
National Capital District Commission in 2013 imposed a betel nut ban but lifted it in 2017.
During that period, the National Capital District Betelnut Control Law prohibited the sale, consumption and spitting of betel nut in public places within the NCD, including ‘villages and settlements’, although it did not mention sales within private residences.
More significantly, it banned the transport of more than two kilograms of betel nut (about 100 nuts) into the NCD without a permit (granted primarily for cultural purposes).
Under Governor Powes Parkop’s master plan to beautify the nation’s capital, they engaged casual workers to help rid the city of betel nut vendors and trash.
The pavements, streets of our capital city saw a remarkable change in terms of littering associated with betel nut chewing.
The casuals, then called rangers, has since been disbanded and this time the policing done by NCDC Enforcement Unit and police.
While everyone appreciates the Governor’s intention, it is the heavy handed tactics used by those who are supposed to be enforcing the ban that needs to be scrutinised. A good number of citizens have had their encounter with the enforcers and most protest that their approach leaves a lot to be desired.
Their (enforcers) performance has been woeful, to say the least, and the mounting criticisms and allegations of harassment of innocent people highlights an urgent need for a review.
Seemingly, what started as a genuine initiative seems to have gone off course along the way.
Better structured mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that the idea does not defeat the reason why it was put in place.
If someone is caught selling betel nut in any unauthorised area, they should be rounded up and along with evidence be taken to the police station to be charged.
The evidence should be photographed, labelled and if bail is permitted, then the vendor can pay otherwise wait for their court appearance.
While it can be frustrating for the enforcers doing the same procedure countless times, the only way to get the message across to the vendors is to ensure those caught actually end up in a court room with all supporting documents to be dealt with.
Why beat the vendors, firing gun shots and even become king of road by racing the traffic just to chase the vendors, collect whatever is left including pocketing whatever taking is left. All this is done in full public view.
That is no way of winning the public’s trust and confidence.
It only encourages criticism and resistance.
All those tasked with enforcing the no selling of betel nut in unathoritised areas should be given proper training on how to conduct themselves when dealing with the public.
It is time also to get appropriate laws in place to charge the chewers for chewing in public. Because they buy, vendors continue to trade.
Our good Governor might want to think about refining the idea so it eliminates the chances of it being abused where people are being victimised.
This could easily end up in court on abuse of human rights.