Southern Highlands provincial Government impose liquor ban
Southern Highlans Provincial Government (SHPG) through its third quarter assembly meeting imposed a liquor ban policy in the province last week.
Seeing the escalating disturbances and violences leading to serveral deaths occùring in various communities have trigged the government to impose the liquor ban.
The Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents in the Assembly meeting vocaled on the issues and habbits of drinking alcohol that have gone bad to worse at the community level destroying families, causing public nuisance, unnecessary disturbance and leading into family violence.
The presidents have also raised concerns on safe guarding the upcoming National Election in 2027 to be free from alcohol related issues that easily triggers violence once a person is toxicated with alcohol.
The Chairman of the Provincial Assembly Meeting and Southern Highlands Governor, William Powi welcomed the majority support from the assembly members on the liquor ban and passing the resolution anonymously.
"I take this opportunity to thank and appreciate all the Presidents to provide strong leadership in standing up for fixing their communities, districts and the province.
"Leaders including him self are here to make laws and debate issues and find workable solutions for our people to live comfortably enjoying life rather than creating unsafe environment for the people," Powi said.
In the meeting, the new Southern Highlands Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Chief Inspector, Kelly Sombe addressed alcohol related isssues and violences that are on the rise and further causing threat to public safety and to the business houses too.
He said while taking consideration of upcoming National Election coming arround the corner, liquor ban across the province is of priority and iminent.
"The liquor sales must stop, entry points must be controlled, check points at critical location must be created, offenders smuggling liquor into the province and selling must be arrested and charged," he said.
He said he can not work alone with his policemen to achieve a good result but need all leaders' coorperation including the community to stand together with him to fight law and order issues in the province.
He said a budget support from the provicial government is needed to carry out the liquor ban operations and combat other illegal activities including drug and illegal weapon trading.
This will enable him to put up back the Kaugul Bridge Check-Point, erect check points at Mendi-Kandep Road, Mendi-Tambul Road, Mendi-Tari Road and Erave-Kikori road.
These check points will monitor movements of alcohol, drugs and illegal weapon trading. The check points will be mend by police personals on rotation basis and not engaging private securities as used to be before.
The assemby members fully relsoved to support the PPC with budget funding to carry out the operational plans to tackle the increasing law and order issue and make a change.
Pior in carrying out the police operations, an awaress on the liquor ban, other illegal activities and gun surrender will be scheduled and carried out soon.