Lae bans grog

By PISAI GUMAR
A THREE-month liquor ban will be imposed in Lae city from tomorrow.
Documents to validate the ban, announced last week by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, had been signed.
The three-month ban will be imposed in the city and parts of the Huon Gulf and Nawaeb districts.
It comes after Morobeans took to the streets in protest against street vendors.
The provincial executive council moved to impose the ban after declaring Lae a fighting zone. The ban will be effective until Jan 31.“By virtue of powers conferred by section 27 of the Liquor Licensing Act (2003), Wenge imposed a liquor ban on all storekeeper licences on schedule A, except schedule B,” liquor licensing chairman Bill Singilong said.
Schedule A included all take-away stores and retailers in Lae district, Lae urban, Ahi, Labuta, Wampar and Salamaua local level government areas.
Schedule B included taverns, limited hotels, publican, restaurants, clubs and distributors.
“Schedule B is instructed to trade strictly during trading hours,” Singilong said.
Anyone found trading through the back door will lose their licences.
Meanwhile, Lae police metropolitan comman­der Supt Nema Mondiai urged people, especially youths, to do away with the illegal brewing of steam, coffee candy, trumpet flower drink and drugs.
“Homebrew and drugs are illegal and police will not tolerate people found intoxicated in public places,” Mondiai said.
Police patrols had been strategically positioned along the Miles, Kamkumung, Busu Road towards Bumayong and Tent Siti, Situm and Gobadik areas.
“The situation is back to normal and people should not fear police because police are here to enforce law, provide security and protect law-abiding citizens. However, for those who intend to break laws, the full force of the law will deal severely with them,” Mondiai said.
He assured the provincial education board
that police would provide security at various schools that were affected by the violence to ensure students continued classes.