Youths give up drugs, surrender

OVER one hundred youths in a community in Western Highlands want change and have pledged to live normal lives and get into agricultural activities.
Elementary school students with placards reading “Thank you brother for saving my future” led a procession organised for the 118 youths to surrender on Wednesday.
The Keta-Kori community in the Muglamp local level government (LLG) of Dei faced social issues caused by youths who smoked and sold marijuana.
The community launched the Keta-Kori stop drugs movement and organised a crusade for the youths to surrender to police and pledge not to be involved in illegal activities.
Vivian Richard, 12, who attended Keta Elementary School, was among students, especially girls, who led the procession showing their appreciation for a safer community.
“When we hear them (youths) standing in groups smoking along roadsides, we are afraid to go near them,” Richard said.
“Though they are our brothers, fathers and members of the community, we fear them as they do not make good judgements.
“Their decision to change has made us proud. The whole community is happy but we as girls, we are more than happy and salute our brothers.”
Ward seven councillor Clement Namba said teachers and their families posted to Keta Primay School feared the youths but the move to surrender was a positive one.
He said they would need support from community and elected leaders.
Namba said before the surrender, the youths uprooted marijuana plants in their gardens.
He said the youths would undergo rehabilitation activities and those caught with marijuana in the future would be arrested.
Chief Insp Matthew Makure said the Keta youths were the second lot to surrender after a group in Mt Hagen who surrendered on Sunday.
He said the youths promised to work with the community and police to handover suspects involved in smoking, cultivating and selling marijuana.