Health issue forces government to regulate betel nut, says PM

THE chewing, selling and buying of betel nuts are becoming a real concern for the country, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
O’Neill yesterday tabled in Parliament the Summary Offences (Amendment) Bill 2018 which detailed penalties for those who chew betel nut in public places.
He said under the amendment, offenders would be fined an amount not exceeding K10,000 and/or a jail term not exceeding three years.
“Again it gives a lot of felicity to the magistrates and judges to enforce this,” O’Neill said.
He said betel-nut chewing was becoming a major health issue.
He, however, pointed out that “we don’t want to infringe on the rights of individuals and traditional practices where people can continue to chew betel nut in a responsible way”.
“Sometimes chewing has gone beyond the boundaries of culture and tradition. It has now become a very serious health problem for our country,” O’Neill said.
He said according to the World Health Organisation, PNG was among countries with the highest incidence of oral cancer. That is attributed mainly to betel-nut chewing.
“That is why we have a responsibility to protect and promote the health of our people. Some of our people seem not to care but it is our responsibility as the Government to make sure these concerns are publicly addressed and that we continue to regulate this,” O’Neill said.
In Port Moresby, the National Capital District Commission imposed a betel-nut ban in 2013 but lifted it in 2017. “During that period, the pavements, streets of our capital city saw a remarkable change in terms of littering associated with betel-nut chewing,” O’Neill said.
“Penality clauses that we are now introducing is just to deter bad practices. People can chew betel nut in their homes and communities. There is no ban on that.
“People can buy and sell betel nut at designated places in the city. It must be an area that is specifically set up for that.
“But chewing in public is totally banned.
“We have to respect other people and members of our community. Of course health is again a very major issue in terms of the chewing of betel nuts.”