Stop roadside meet

POLICE should take a stand against communities conducting public gatherings at roadsides on the national highway, a community leader from Hela says.
Thomas Taralu, from Kawenda village, in the Tebilocal level government, Tari-Pori district said people forced vehicles to slow.
He said it was a public road that should be accessible to everybody.
Anyone who wants to conduct private activities should do them 10 metres from the roadside, he said.
He said on his recent trip to Mt Hagen, the vehicle he was travelling in had to slow to wait for people to get off the road.
“In the beginning of the year, about five people were killed at Pokrapugl village, in Imbonggu district, of Southern Highlands, because of this,” he said.
Southern Highlands provincial police commander Superintendent Sibron Papoto said police should be notified if people wanted to conduct public meetings near roads.

The failure to do so has led to the loss of lives and businesses being affected, he said.
He also cautioned drivers not to drink while driving and respect people living along the national highway by slowing down near villages and settlements.