Country needs control measures

BEING a resident of the oldest settlement in the National Capital District for the last 28 years, I wholeheartedly endorse your editorial on Jan 2, alcohol abuse is a time bomb.
In the same issue, North East MP John Kaupa released a statement of his plans to enforce liquor ban.
In a related article, Sir Peter Barter released his views for the Government to consider implementing the Vagrancy Act to control the movement of people as a way forward to have control and at least install confidence to all.
In my opinion, this nation needs some form of control for the next 10 years or so.
Maybe implement the Vagrancy Act with amendments to reflect certain provinces, say NCD.
It is a sad fact that women, girls and the law abiding citizens are living in fear.
It is true women and daughters are victims of sexual abuse, rape etc, but are suppressed due to fear of exposure and family problems, leading to increased family disputes and broken marriages, resulting in social problems.
Findings quoted in the UN Women, Region on Scoping Findings Publication 2012; Making Port Moresby Safer for Women and Girls is alarming and degrading our society and country.
I find it hard to believe that our women and girls can be that low to offer themselves for cigarettes, betel nut, food and transport (I dispute this report and publication).
If this report is true and correct (2012) and to be happening in the NCD public markets, then it was already a sign of serious social breakdown with drug and alcohol abuse and a very sick society.
By this time our settlements would be in the bombed (worse state) situation. The alcohol abuse time bomb has been in existence and seriously developed over the last 10 years and NCDC has not done enough to address the situation.
Time and again, NCDC liquor licensing division has miserably failed to policy this area.
Trading licensing has been issued without proper survey and consultation with stakeholders.
In the North East electorate, we have a chain of clubs and bottle shops operating right into the settlements and residential areas with no restrictions to trading hours (24/7/365).
The production of homebrew has dramatically dropped with substantial increase in the consumption of legally produced spirits which are cheap and easily available on the black markets, settlement bottle shops and couriers.
They directly contribute to the escalating law and order problems.
However, it is quite surprising that our MP is just about to collect data to ban liquor licences and relevant information to tackle our problems in the electorate, despite being on the NCDC Board. What are the priorities in the North East 5 Year Development Plan?
The Urbanisation of Settlement has been a political tool since 2007 and nothing positive has been done to convince the people.
The North East electorate in particular is expanding on a daily basis through land grabbing creating more problems.
NCD leaders planning and responses to the majority of the people’s needs are way off target, with empty promises.
Urbanisation of settlements is a monster, costly and a complicated issue.
Coupled with the current issues under existing laws, it will lead us to chaotic situations very soon.
It is wise and better to forego some of our protected basic rights now then to safeguard them and live fear and misery.
We need the Government to act now and put in place legislative changes for a specific timeframe or introduce the Vagrancy Act or a State of Emergency for affected provinces, to address these issues head on.
Finally, I support the views of Sir Peter Barter to introduce the Vagrancy Act to aid the Government to address the worsening law and order, youth unemployment, alcohol abuse, urban drift and others to install confidence to all citizens and stakeholders.

Concerned NE settler,
5-Mile settlement