NCDC bans betel nut starting today

The National Main Stories

THE National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has again banned the sale of betel nut from today – with offenders facing a fine of up to K10,000 or a three-year jail term.
Acting city manager Ravu Frank said the selling, buying, chewing and spitting of betel nut in public places would be banned from today.
City employees are expected to enforce the ban at Boroko today and move to other suburbs by next Monday.
In a public notice, Ravu said: “The amended Summary Offences Act 2018 prohibits the selling, buying, chewing and spitting of betel
nut in public places in the city.
“During the state of emergency lockdown, the city gained its former glory. The streets looked cleaner.
“However, when parts of the SoE (state of emergency) restrictions were lifted, the ugly head of uncleanliness resurfaced with large quantity of betel nut being sold.
“Thus, the municipal government of the city, the NCDC, will start enforcing the law against selling, buying, chewing and spitting of betel nut at public place including bus stops, traffic lights, junctions and in public and private motor vehicles using public roads in the city.”
He said officers would start enforcement in parts of the city.
“Other parts of the city will see awareness for a week before full enforcement as of Monday 22nd June 2020.
“Under the amendment, offenders are fined an amount not exceeding K10,000 and/or a jail term not exceeding three years.”

20 comments

  • Thank you NCDC! Please enforce this and start locking offenders up! If you don’t take a tough stand, things will never change!

  • This is madness!!..K10,000 fine and min 3years jail for a simple Papua New Guinean struggling to earn a living out of selling betelnut ?.. How the hell did the law makers come up with these penalties?, No balance check!!.. Please just review this section of the Act. PMJM, this law was passed well before “Take Back PNG” came into being. Imposing Buai ban is Not even part of the strategy to take back PNG. Buai has traditional value in PNG societies.

  • Selling betel nut in public place is a crime. the penalty says so, so mind you it is now an indictable offence. What a rubbish legislation equally the same as spitting the red buai on public streets..

  • I believe the Summary Offenses Amendment Act 2018 is not in force and it will be illegal to arrest and detain people based on this law and could cost NCDC and the State money if someone sues NCD for illegal arrest and detention under this law.

  • NCDC and NCD Governor must introduce another cash crop for the betel nut farmers. Mostly the people of central and gulf and the people living on Pom rely on betel nut. This nut brings in thousands of kina for people who enjoy doing business with it.
    NCDC and NCD governor should look at ways to assist farmers and people who benefit out of betel nuts.

  • Thank you NCDC. Residents can chew and spit in their homes or back yard not public places. Port Moresby is a very dirty filty city in the Pacific. 40 years ago Port Moresby was a very clean and safe place to live.

  • Selling of Buai is not problem but its how we consume it and spit it out to the face of our city is a problem.

    So ban it for life in NCDC until people change their mind set and know how to chew it.

    Goodbye Ats venders..too much rubbish

  • Betel nut business does not pay taxes to IRC or NCDC but NCDC pay contractor to clean the rubbish created by this business. I support the law to out law betel nut. Thank you. we can see a cleaner POM City

    Go back home betel nut sellers

  • It is high time NCDC means business, Port Moresby is no longer only the mini PNG culture setting but it hosts international cultures. Ban it in public places and allow it in the streets, indoor residence so people take ownership of the rubbish and filt.

    Hanua.

  • Go ahead and ban the selling and chewing of buai as you said NCDC. Peoples mindset has not changed yet, eating like pigs and dogs.

  • Even though i am great buai chewer but I totally agree with authorities on the banned of the buai sale in the city. I believe that by doing so It will make my job easier for a security guard like me.
    The client that i am looking after just hate to see buai sellers in front of the building and when i sometimes confront that buai seller he always start argument with me. If i do not follow the instruction of the client my job is on the line. I get this security money to pay for my 7 children who are currently schooling at Uni, grade 12, 8, 7, 6, and & 5. I am always scared because of the buai seller i am going to lose my security job and where do i end up??? Please! NCD governor PP with your team go ahead and change the face of the city,

  • Yes it is a good idea to stop the selling and consumption of betel nuts because we are looking at some good outcomes like clean and sustainable city as mentioned in the article. Also it will greatly help the chewers to save their costs and keep up their health. However other issues may rise because selling of betelnut also contributes in small scale economy to some low income earners in cities like Port Moresby. Therefor city management should also consider those before taking actions. Lives of some people who are sustaining from selling of betel nut are equally important as others, just a clean city can not help sustain lives as selling of betel nut do. so it would be better if the city management allow them to do selling and consumption in some certain locations and restristrict others.

  • At last and finally its happening – well done NCDC!
    Next look at the VAGRANCY ACT please, full stop!
    All 22 provinces members, its about time YOU take full responsibility of your own province and educate its peole.
    Not just acedamically but HYGIENE wise as well. We are in the twenty first century.

  • 10, 000 fine or 3 years imprisonment is unreasonable. It is not propotionate to the wrong done. This amendment of the Summary Offence Act to include this part is harsh and oppresive as expressed by s. 41 of the constitution. Someone or some authority with standing should make a Supreme Court Refference and have this law nullified for its unconstitutionality.

  • This is ridiculous! Where is justice and fairness in this decision to totally ban buai. Buai is a main commodity that sustains sellers – from farmers (Central and Gulf) to vendors (in NCD). People have been living off Buai. i.e. school fees; bride price; foods; basic needs etc.
    Instead regulate selling and consumption of buai. Come up with creative ideas whereby people can sell and consume amicably. Create a win-win situation. Just for the sake of cleanliness of the city you can not suppress the economic well being of the people. You are depriving their unalienable rights to liberty and pursuit of happiness.

    After all government is for the people and by the people and government should always rule in the best interest of the people.

  • Thankyou NCDC. Port Moresby City is not for Buai Selling and Buai Filth. 40 years is enough. Time to change.

  • This is not the answer to solve this problem. Of betel nut, the only answer is to get rid of the squarer settlements and get the Highlanders back to their places, and they are the ones causing this problem and not the coastal people because highlanders they have a attitude problem and I don’t care attitude. That’s the answer to this problem thank you

  • Kindly upload the actual order from NCDC on this buai ban so we can have access to a copy.

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