SHP alcohol ban still in place

THE Southern Highlands alcohol ban remains, provincial administrator Joseph Catejan says.
Cajetan, who is the chairman of the provincial liquor licence commission, admitted errors in issuing licences to Kiburu Lodge and Clive Steel Club in Mendi recently and was now recalling them.
Cajetan said the provincial executive council (PEC) and the provincial assembly’s decision to ban alcohol in the province still stood, and there was no special treatment to anyone, including hotels and clubs, for bringing alcohol into the province.
“The trading licences said to be issued are null and void,” he said.
“The PEC is the only body that has the power to revoke the beer ban but until then, I do not have the power to revoke the PEC decision to ban in the province.
“I must admit that I was misled in signing the licence but after careful study of the beer ban laws, I am now satisfied that the trading licence issued is illegal.
“The law passed by the PEC and provincial government is supreme and the issuance of the two licences to Kiburu Lodge and Clive Still are illegal and has no effect and therefore I call on the management of Kiburu Lodge and Clive Still Club to surrender the illegal licence.
“I want the companies also to stop importing beers into the province as the beer ban laws passed by the provincial government is still effective until it is revoked by the same government.”