Do something about liquor ban, says PPC

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 23rd May 2013

 TARI police patrolling Ambua Gap on the highlands highway in Hela confiscated 250 cartons of beer and counterfeit goods at 4am yesterday.

Hela provincial police commander Supt Jimmy Onopia was disappointed with how the boom gates at Kaupena in Southern Highlands were being manned, saying large quantities of alcohol were smuggled into Hela. 

“If Hela is experiencing a surge in alcohol consumption, then Southern Highlands too must be the same,” he said.

“But why do we have men, either police or civilians stationed at the boom gates to stop alcohol smuggling?

“Many of the law and order problems in the province are caused by alcohol and if we are really serious about liquor ban, something needs to be done to address this issue.”

Onopia said police were conducting a 24-hour patrol of Ambua Gap to cut down on criminal activities there, including the assault and robbing of motorists.

The officers came across the vehicle loaded with alcohol and the counterfeit goods.

Three weeks ago, the Digicel Cup Rugby league competition held at Joe Keviame Oval in Mendi, Southern Highlands, was thrown into chaos after beer bottles, stones and sticks were thrown into the field.

Luckily none of the Muruk players were hurt.

Among the 3,000 supporters of the Mt Hagen Eagles and PRK Mendi Muruks cheering for their teams were scores of drunkards. 

Mendi local business man Lucas Martin condemned the action of the people saying it was bad that alcohol was consumed publicly.

Jack Nepi, a villager who had walked all the way from Poroma in the Nipa-Kutubu district to watch the game, said he was surprised to see liquor being sold inside the venue.