Call to lift SHP liquor ban

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

THE Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce has called on the provincial government to lift the liquor ban in the province.

Chamber president Berry Mini claimed last Friday that the ban was not being effectively implemented resulting in large quantities of liquor being smuggled into the province and sold at high prices.

Mini claimed police, who were supposed to enforce the ban, were involved in escorting liquor into the province on the main highway and through the Mendi-Tambul Road.

“Who is going to implement and enforce the ban when every concerned authority, who is supposed to do it, are escorting alcohol into the province as reported in the media recently?” Mini said.

A bottle of beer in the province costs K10.

“Users are digging deep into their pockets to buy their favourite ale,” he said.

Mini said the ban imposed during Anderson Agiru’s term as governor four years ago was politically-motivated and no proper mechanisms were in place to effectively enforce the ban. 

He urged Govenor William Powi to lift the ban and put in place strong measures to control the sale of alcohol in the province in licensed premises.

But, provincial liquor licensing commissioner Lones Nali said while police in the province had failed in their efforts to enforce the ban and the illegal trade and consumption of alcohol in Southern Highlands (and Hela), at least the ban was having some control on the situation.

“While business houses will be concerned about the losses they will be suffering, it is a fact that without the liquor ban, Southern Highlands and Hela will be worst of in terms of law and order.

“At least the ban is having some control on its sale and consumption in public places and anywhere for that matter,” Nali said.