City, Customs to help censor

Lae News, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 30th November 2011

By PISAI GUMAR
THE national censorship office has delegated powers to the Lae city policing unit to work with PNG Customs in monitoring the sale of multiple DVDs and audio visual products.
Chief Censor Steven Mala and deputy Jim Abani yesterday signed the instruments with Lae city acting manager Murewec Zurenuoc, health and community service head Jonathan Ipang and policing officer in charge Simon Yipam witnessed by four Lae-based PNG customs officers.
Mala said the delegation of powers was to enable PNG Customs and the Lae city policing unit to monitor various shops and street vendors selling multiple DVDs, VCDs and other audio visual products.
“Lae being central with road links to five highlands region – Madang, Sepik and the New Guinea Islands – will see such illegal products come through the city then distributed to other centres,’’ he said.
“Therefore the duties and roles of monitoring and inspection begin as of yesterday,” Mala said.
Censorship under the department of community development has worked over the years with the assistance of the PNG Customs who diligently carried out their roles and responsibilities tirelessly at the ports.
But lack of resources to monitor and track down illegal products at the entry points into the country had seen the increase of illegal activities.
“If any shops and premises are suspected of producing or selling these products, the PNG Customs and Lae city policing unit will not tolerate it,” Mala said.
To operate any DVDs, VCDs and audio visual products shops in Lae, retailers are urged to get a specific trading certificate directly from the Censorship Board.
Based upon the specific certificate, the Lae city health and community service unit will issue trading licenses within the city area, Abani said.
Abani said Lae was the first centre the censorship board had decided to extend its arm to and work in partnership not only with Lae city policing unit and PNG Customs but also other private and public institutions to ensure businesses were conducted in a proper manner.
The MoA will be prepared and signed next year.