Harsh penalties, same attitude

FINES up to K10,000 and jail terms up to three years as penalties for people who break the rules on chewing betel nuts, smoking and spraying paint in public places.
An amendment to the Summary Offences Bill was passed by Parliament last year.
For the National Capital District, it has become a mammoth task for authorities as they battle with ridding the town of betel nut stains and the filth that comes with it.
Enforcing the betel nut ban in Port Moresby is currently on hold as they wait for Magisterial Services and police to work out how the paper work will progress.
Today, Port Moresby’s streets are stained by the blood red spittle that chewing produces and discarded husks clog the gutters.
While individuals have the right to chew betel nut, it is the discarding of the husk and spittle that is forcing authorities to react in this manner.
It is an eye sore and a very unpleasant view to see red spittle over pavements, bitumen, flower gardens and everywhere. The red spittle in fact has defaced these public infrastructures.
Another contributing factor to the defacing of infrastructure is graffiti which is getting out of hand.
Such arrogant attitude and the shallow thinking has left authorities with no option but go with pushing for harsh penalties.
Many countries today have laws that ban smoking in public places because it affects non-smokers as well.
Papua New Guinea is a signatory to the WHO Convention on Tobacco Control. PNG signed up in 2004 and smoke-free legislations were since developed to prohibit smoking in public places which includes public transport, health care facilities, restaurants and universities amongst others.
This means we are one of those countries that have laws in place that prohibit smoking in public places.
Some may say the penalties are too harsh but how else can the message asking all citizens to be responsible be emphasised.
We have to be honest that many of those of who defy are those with the no-care attitude with no sense of responsibility or appreciation of what is being done for the benefit of all.
Bans, restrictions, messaging and controls have been tried since Governor Powes Parkop entered office and by now the governor has realised that regulating the people’s attitudes is not something that can be done in a term of office or even two.
This task will not be easy but someone has to crack the whip without fear or favour.
Most of our major towns and cities are experiencing an unprecedented level of growth in terms of the expansion of the economy and the size of the population.
With these rapid changes comes the need to instil in the people a sense of pride and unity.
It is a generational change that will take place over time provided there is constant positive reinforcement of the right behaviour.
The ban policy is beneficial for human and environment health as well as to formalise trading activities, instil good moral perception and remove free rider problem associated with cleaning up of trash.
The idea that maintaining order and peace, and a balanced state, in society is somehow the public service’s responsibility is not only regressive but detrimental to progress.
The penalties in a way will help correct the wrong way of doing things, way of practicing in chewing and spitting of betel nut and the respect for non-smokers in public places.