Betel nut ban in Kokopo

By ROSELYN ELLISON
KOKOPO mayor Benjamin Mesmin Murliu hopes people will obey the betel nut and smoking ban in public places in Kokopo from Monday.
Murliu said Kokopo was a tourist hub and the country’s fourth city.
He raised the issue during the East New Britain executive council meeting last week with Governor Nakikus Konga .
They agreed on a total ban on the sale and chewing of betel nuts, smoking and spitting in public places in the city.
Murliu said the ENB government and its executive members were behind the initiative.
“As the Kokopo City mayor, I am declaring that there will be a total ban starting from Monday,” he said.
He said the city authority would try to secure a piece of land to accommodate those involved in the betel nut trade.
He said the main Kokopo market would no longer allow vendors to sell betel nut.