Dept to enforce ban on betel nut chewing

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Transport Department will enforce the ban on the chewing of betel nut in all its offices starting Monday.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure William Samb said as per the directive of Prime Minister James Marape, no public servants should chew betel but during working hours. Those who breach the rule will face disciplinary action which includes sacking.
He said the of chewing betel nut must stop.
“I’m a betel nut chewer but I leave it at home and come to work,” he said.
“So by Monday, we will also start starting chewing gum (instead of buai). This is a directive to all public servants. We say it (chewing betel-nut) is part of our culture but some of us have not even sees a buai tree. It is not part of our culture. We abuse the purpose of buai.”
He also directed senior department officers remove the illegal roadside market in front of the department headquarters at 7-Mile.
“This is unhealthy and it’s an illegal market so it must stop. We must not encourage this kind of road side vendors as it is risky and it relates to health issues as well,” he said.
Marape recently reprimanded officers at the Department of Housing who he saw chewing betel-nut during office hours. He told them it was banned. Samb called on public servants to do an honest day’s work and not cheat taxpayers who pay their wages.
He also warned those caught playing pokies and betting at horse-racing outlets during working hours that they could be sacked. He told them to come to work on time.
He also wants to see unattached officers identified because they were being paid for doing nothing.