Parkop wants common sense in betel nut ban

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has called for all parties to exercise common sense when initiating the restriction of betel nut sale in public places NCD.
His comments came after pupils at a school near a police station were affected by tear gas reportedly used against buai sellers.
Parkop said: “For starters, this is not a war on betelnut,” referring to a media report headline yesterday.
“It is meant to be a controlled exercise, starting in Boroko to keep our suburbs clean and healthy.
“We have not even started at Hohola, where the regrettable incident took place.
“When a controlled operation is taking place, it suggests that there is a ban to prevent the sale of betel nut in major public places.
“Cooperation and common sense of all parties including police, vendors, chewers and the general public is necessary to make this exercise successful,.
“Wholesale and retail markets have been identified and there are more venues coming up for vendors to use.
“The police should be working in tandem with our city officers. We have a strategy in place and we have not given direction to regular police to implement that strategy yet.
“I am asking the new city manager, Bernard Kipit, to make it a high priority to meet with the National Capital District Police Metropolitan Commander so that National Capital District Commission’s strategy regarding the control of the partial buai ban is fully understood.”