Public urged to work with rangers

 By TROY TAULE

UPNG journalism student

THE public has been called on to appreciate the work of city rangers and that is to ensure that all street vending was done in designated areas.

This was part of National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop’s directive of keeping Port Moresby city clean.

City rangers (employed under Welo Investment Ltd) supervisor Victor Maketa called on market venders to cooperate with the rangers to avoid incidents like last Wednesday’s from taking place.

The Post Courier newspaper last week published in the front page a photograph of vendor Roger Kips from Enga who was allegedly beaten by city rangers at Ela beach.

The city rangers claimed the report was biased and untrue.

Maketa said what the story depicted was totally different to what actually happened. 

He said upon approaching Kips, the rangers asked him to surrender his bag of betel nuts and cigarettes for selling which was prohibited in certain areas of the city. 

After Kips refused they told him to get into a vehicle with them and go sort out the matter at the police station. 

However, Kips got out a bush knife and charged at one of the rangers who in self-defence reacted resulting in a physical confrontation between the rangers and bystanders who joined into help Kips.

Maketa said the rangers were outnumbered in the attack.