Province to control informal business

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Northern executive council (PEC) has passed a legislation to control the informal business sector and illegal activities in Popondetta.
Chairman of communication Herbert Isemba and chairman of local level government affairs Norman Ivahupa said the administration’s decision (NO: 05-05-2019) banned all informal sector activities the provincial capital.
In recent times, the uncontrolled influx of people had led to a rapid growth of informal sector activities had caused more a rise in law and order issues like pick-pocketing, bag snatching and aggressive street-hawking as well as other related issues such as congestion and pollution – rubbish in public places especially betel nut waste and stains.
The PEC last Tuesday banned all informal sector activities in Popondetta’s central business district.
The council said the decision would see offenders arrested, charged and prosecuted with penalties consistent with the Summary Offences Act and the Informal Sector Development and Control Act 2004 (ISDCA 2004).
The According to PEC, offenders would be charged under provisions of the Summary Offences Act:
lSection 19: Loitering with intent to commit an indictable offence; a person who–loiters in or near; or frequents, a public place with intent to commit an indictable offence is guilty of an offence. Penalty: A fine not exceeding K200 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year;
lsection 44A – Section 44A – (Subsection 2): A person who sells or buys ‘brus’ or a cigarette in a public place is guilty of an offence. Penalty: A fine not exceeding Kl0,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years; and,
lSection 44B – (Subsection 1) – 1): A person who (a) sells betel nuts; or (b) buys betel nuts; or (c) chews or spits betel nut juice in a public place is guilty of an offence. Penalty: A fine not exceeding K10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.
The Northern executive council said the main Popondetta market would also be exclusively for the sale of garden produce (vegetables and fruits) and other food stuff and authorised informal sector activities).
The newly constructed Oro-Kaiva Market near the old Guba market would be for fruits and vegetables as well as for the sale of arts and crafts only.
The temporary designated informal sector markets would be at Konda lane, Gasara steet round-about and Ugi service station and Department of Works while betel nut trading was restricted to PNG Power House and the old abattoir.