Parkop apologises to Haoda over ban

 NATIONAL Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop has apologised to Central Governor Kila Haoda for not consulting and communicating with him over the betel ban issue in the city.

The betel nut ban issue has been debated in Parliament in the last two weeks, with mixed reactions from MPs. 

Last Friday during Grievance Debate, Parkop responded to the issues that were raised as well as to the petition from Haoda and newly elected Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo.

“I understand the concern and grievances that are causing to our people in Central and I accept all the criticisms that have been raised. We will be endeavouring to meet with all our colleagues in the Central provincial government so we can address all these issues which most are management issues,” he said. 

“The Central Governor has been supportive of the outcome that we want for our city and for our people in Central but he is put in a situation where it is causing a lot of inconvenience to our people, hardship and loss of income and he has to raise these issues and I accept that.”

Parkop apologised to Haoda and other Central MPs through the House for the breach of protocol in NCD Commission’s efforts to impose the ban in city and reach the outcome they wanted.

He said his team had already started discussing the issues outlined in Haoda’s petition and was working towards a win-win outcome. 

“The decision to have a ban in Port Moresby is not an easy decision,” Parkop said. 

“We have been trying to manage it since 2008 and because it’s the attitude problem of our people in the city that has caused a lot of inconvenience for our people in Central.

“As Governor, it’s a risky decision to take. It’s got a lot of political risk but I have to think about our city – its image, the values and virtues that are important and to have a good environment.”