Youths organise to fight crime, find employment

By EHEYUC SESERU
Youths from 7th Street in Lae are organising themselves to counter lawlessness and find options for employment.
The youths, who have been living at the street for many years, formed the 7th Street Youth and Women’s Association.
The association comes under the provincial youth desk.
Interim chairman Hans Roy Gwaiko said most of the young men were unemployed and had been resorting to criminal activities, including pick-pocketing and bag-snatching.
“Unemployment is causing lawlessness,” he said.
“With the community’s blessing, we are organising ourselves to seek assistance and help youths.
“We have formed the association to address lawlessness by engaging the youths.
“We would like to work in partnership with State authorities to address these issues together in helping our young people.”
Gwaiko said youths at different streets of Cassowary Road and along 7th Street were establishing smaller groups to affiliate to the association.
He said they would also be working together with business houses within the ward to address youth and women’s issues.
Former councillor Michael Koi supported the group with K500 for registration with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).
Ward Two councillor Carol Yawing thanked the youths for organising themselves to work as group to help secure law and order.
“It is time we must cooperate and work together for betterment of our community, our children and our future,” she said.
“It has been the cry of mothers in the community to see our sons settle down.
“We are supporting the initiative.”
The group’s interim executives are Gwaiko, secretary Lorraine Pakei and treasurer Demas Michael.