Week-long liquor ban in Port Moresby

On Friday, the billboard with a picture of Prime Minister James Marape and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi near Unagi Oval in Gordon, Port Moresby, was vandalised a day after it was put up. Inset: Over the weekend, the billboard was removed, but still covered with graffiti.

By JESHER TILTO
A WEEK-LONG liquor ban for the National Capital District (NCD) starts tomorrow and ends on May 23, City Manager Ravu Frank says.
“The main reason for this liquor ban is to maintain law and order for the world leaders’ visit during that timeframe,” he said.
“All outlets, except for licensed hotels, will be banned from selling liquor during that time.”
The NCD licensing committee last Friday agreed on the ban.
“We would like to appeal to everyone to use this time to maintain and keep the peace in the city. Use this opportunity to show the world leaders our culture and our goodwill.”
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Chief Inspector Silva Sika urged liquor retail outlets and city residents to observe the ban.
“People who (breach) the laws are likely to lose their licences,” he said.
Meanwhile, Frank also warned people defacing public property that they will face the law.
“We will work with the police and we will find these perpetrators and the law will deal with them,” he said.
Frank was reacting to people who painted graffiti on a new billboard near Unagi Oval in Port Moresby announcing the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The billboards were put up in preparation for the world leaders’ visit next week.
“It is a challenge that we are managing and I would like to appeal to everyone, especially those perpetrators who are doing graffiti and defacing public property, to stop,” he said.
“We’d like to discourage them from doing that. If you see any person that is defacing public property, please report it to us or the police.”