Villagers told to stop drug trade

 By TAUNA GEORGE  
GOILALA MP William Samb is discouraging people in his electorate from engaging in marijuana trade as an alternate source of income.
Samb said the recent drought forced locals to go into the illegal trade because they needed money for basic necessities.
Although it may seem like the easy way out, the MP said he was concerned about the negative effects of marijuana on the lives of locals.
“It is illegal but authorities continue to turn a blind eye to the people’s needs, that is why they continue to engage in this trade,” Samb said.
Goilala has fertile soil that often yields good crops and marijuana thrives in hidden locations.
Samb said during a recent trip to the area to distribute food to drought-affected villagers that locals told him they were willing to give up the illegal activity if the Government could set up sustainable projects for them.
They said the marijuana trade was their only source they could think of.
“I told the locals that we began talks with the Fresh Produce Company, Coffee Industry Corporation and a honey bee company.
“We plan to bring them to Sopu in Tapini LLG to conduct awareness and training for them (locals) to venture into farming these food and cash crops instead of turning to marijuana.”
The MP plans to set up an inland fish farming project.