Patrol gone, buai back

 VILLAGES along the Motuan coastline are being flooded with betel nuts bought into Port Moresby by sea as there are no longer proper sea patrols or enforcement authorities in sight.

Temu Elly, NCD Commissioner manager (law and order), is concerned that the buai ban efforts in the city will continue to be hampered as the contractor to monitor the sea route, where buai was being smuggled through, had stopped operations because of threats.

“We are continuing our surveillance of Motu Koitabu villages and we are seeing a constant supply of buai being brought into places like Gabi, Koki and Dogura villages,” Temu said.

Elly said since Askopina Ltd ceased operations due to ongoing threats of violence and damage to their property by disgruntled Motuans, there had been a constant supply of buai into the villages.

“Askopina not only was the authorised wholesale buyer and distributor of buai in the city but was engaged by National Capital District Commission to provide their fishing trawler to assist in doing surveillance and confiscation of buai from dinghies travelling in from Central and Gulf,” Elly said.

Despite the city authority’s efforts to bar buai in  the National Capital District, many buai growers prefer dealing with smugglers, resulting in loss of business for Askopina.