Nightclubs told to keep U18s out

EAST New Britain provincial police commander Superintendent Anthony Wagambie will formally warn nightclub owners in the province to ban people under-18 from their premises.
Wagambie said this was to discourage prostitution among young girls. He said clubs and liquor outlets selling alcohol to people below 18 years would have their licenses cancelled.
Wagambie said prostitutes were everywhere on the streets of Kokopo, mostly young women and girls. He was unable to provide statistics but said prostitution was now “big” in the province.
He said while prostitution was worse in other provinces, it was still important to discourage it in ENB.
He was responding to concerns raised by women that prostitution was increasing in the province.
It was revealed during a recent gathering of women, organised by the ENB Women Council, that more young girls in the province were now engaged in sexual activities for money.
The women demanded that the council provide awareness in the four districts of Kokopo, Rabaul, Pomio and Gazelle.
The council was told that those involved were teenagers and students.
Mothers and women teachers claimed that many female students easily engage in prostitution using mobile phones at home and in school.
They were also concerned about Grade Nine and Grade 10 students allowed into nightclubs in ENB these days without any proper checks at the doors.
They called on stakeholders including schools to create more awareness on prostitution.
The women also said the “Tolai” cultures and traditions had lost their value and importance.
They said many cultural customs were not strictly followed anymore, leading to incest and rape cases growing every year.