Liquor ban set for POM – The National

A LIQUOR ban for Port Moresby started yesterday and will end on July 8, according to National Capital District Licensing Committee chairman Sir Luciano Cragnolini.
Sir Luciano in a statement yesterday said the liquor ban was imposed for two weeks before polling and three days after polling for General Election 2022 (GE22).
He said the ban would apply to storekeepers, bottle shops, taverns, public bars in limited hotels and publicans and cabaret permit venues.
Categories of licensed premises that are exempted are restaurants, clubs and limited hotels and pubs.
Central police commander Supt John Midi said last week that police would beef up security to monitor the alcohol ban in the province.
He said Highway Patrol Units had been imposing the ban since the province announced it.
Central administrator and chief liquor commissioner Francis Koaba said liquor ban in the province started on May 12 and would end on July 31.
He said the purpose of the ban was to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free GE22 in each village.
“Provincial liquor officials have been advised to closely monitor and ensure people comply.”

District lacks good governance and leadership: Candidate

**Jeffery Suau Singer at a market in Turubu, east coast area of Wewak district in East Sepik recently.**

FORMER banker Jeffery Suau Singer, who is contesting the Wewak open seat in East Sepik as an independent, says there is a need for good governance and quality leadership.
He said this was among numerous key matters that motivated him to contest General Election 2022 (GE22).
The other two he highlighted were the economic potential of Wewak district to be harnessed into financially empower the people and need for good governance and effective service delivery.
Singer from Muschu Island and Dagua in the west coast of Wewak, possesses 20 years of banking, management and leadership experience.
He was the head of the small-medium enterprises (SME) at the BSP Financial Group Limited before he left to contest GE22.
He told The National: “If given the opportunity (to represent people in Wewak open) I have three strategic pillars to build an ark that will carry the dreams and aspirations of our people of Wewak sistrict and ESP.
“Firstly, integral human development – focus on people empowerment and equal participation. Prioritising the needs of our people.
“Secondly, economic empowerment – financial empowerment of our people through supporting and growing MSMEs and resource owners, creating employment opportunities through developing our key industries such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, transport and human resources, downstream processing of resources.
“Thirdly, community development – focus on development at community level customised to meeting the needs of the people, he said.
“Focus on specific needs of our urban and rural populace.
“Land management and disaster policy framework and a green economy policy on off-grid energy and food security.”

Defence forward operating base in Tari not necessary: Potape

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) forward operating base in Tari, Hela is not necessary when it has the provincial police station established there and should have been at the Margarima Station, a regional candidate says.
Former acting Hela governor and Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape said Margarima was a strategic location and PNGDF would be providing security to people living between the borders of Southern Highlands and Hela, and Kandep in Enga.
He said the province has a provincial police station headquarters in Tari-Pori district and now the PNGDF base was set up in the same district.
“I will make sure the PNGDF FOB is relocated to Margarima once I become the governor of Hela,” he said.
“We cannot let the country’s two important security forces operate at the same area, we should look at setting another at a strategic location, Margarima is suitable,” he said.
Potape said Hela was known for law and order issues, and nothing had been done to improve the Tari police station and now the PNGDF FOB has been established.
He said warlords that have involved in killing of innocent woman and children for many years continue to terrorise people and roam around freely and they are yet to be convicted.
“I have hosted several rallies to outline my policies and the reasons why I am contesting.