Papua New Guineans have been challenged to “actively contribute” towards development projects like the Boroko Transformation Project if citizens want to see change in the Pacific’s largest country.

Prime Minister James Marape issued this challenge this week when launching the National Capital District Commission’s Boroko Transformation Project in Port Moresby.

“This must happen. We all have a job to do, a role to play. Not just here in Port Moresby, but also around the country,” Marape said.

• READ MORE: Other Port Moresby reports

“If you want Papua New Guinea to develop, you have a job to do as well. Take care of Boroko.

“Don’t spit betel nut spittle here. We do not have other cities, we only have this city.”

Betel nut is the seed of the fruit of the areca palm with distinctive blood-red juice. It is chewed with betel leaf and lime for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a warming sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness.

It is popular across Papua New Guinea and in neighbouring countries.

24-hour business hub
The Boroko Commercial Business District will undergo major developments to enable it to achieve the status of a 24-hour business hub that is clean and safe for residents, businesses and visitors.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop said this project was part of NCDC’s Vision 2030 to transform Port Moresby.

“This city carries our name. It is our image, our pride. It is the first place of arrival and the last place of departure for all our friends, investors and tourists from all over world,” he said.

“They define our people and our country by this capital city of ours. That is why it is very important that we lift this capital city leaving no stones behind.”

According to City Manager Ravu Frank, the plans for the Boroko Transformation Project were drawn up in November last year and since then, more than K400,000 (NZ$186,000) has been spent in major clean-ups and road work programmes, setting the foundations for developments expected in the future.

“The Boroko Transformation project is all geared to achieve our desire, wish and objective of a clean, safe, healthy and a planned Boroko for a liveable environment,” Frank said.

On Monday this week, Boroko was declared a “betel nut-free zone” and other similar regulations will kick in as the transformation project unfolds.

Republished with permission.

Tulagi in the Central Islands province of Solomon islands is the first provincial capital to ban the sale of betel nut — for an indefinite period — as a measure to help control any potential spread of covid-19.

Premier Stanley Manetiva told SBM Online that the measure became effective yesterday as news reports indicated fears of a community spread of the virus in parts of the capital Honiara.

A 60 hour lockdown was declared in the city and was due to be lifted today.

He said that this was to avoid people chewing and spitting which potentially would spread the virus and from sharing lime as well.

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He said that this was to avoid people chewing betel nut and spitting which potentially would spread the virus — and from sharing lime as well.

Manetiva said the ban stopped people from bringing in their betel nut to the Tulagi market and from selling it in the town.

The ban is only for betel nut while other local produce is still sold at the market.

Tulagi starts curfew
Meanwhile, the premier also confirmed that Tulagi had started its own curfew — banning or limiting all movements by people in the town after 10pm.

He said it was an understanding among the residents in Tulagi that there should be no movement after that time.

The old capital has also monitored ships entering its shores and now has only two designated places for canoes to land on the island town at Taporo and the market.

Besides Guadalcanal, the Central Islands province, is the closest to Honiara, which is experiencing community transmission of covid-19.

RNZ Pacific reports Solomon Islands had reported 48 new cases of covid-19 on Thursday.

It took to 81 the number of cases in the country, which until this week had had just a handful of people with the virus.

Robert Iroga is editor of SBM Online. Republished with permission.

A 15-year-old Papua New Guinean girl, found in a Port Moresby guesthouse during a spot check by immigration and police officers yesterday, says she was sold without her knowledge by her cousin sister for K100 to two men for sex.

Officers of the Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) and police arrived at the guesthouse for a spot check just when the two men were trying to find a room for them and the girl.

The guesthouse at 5-Mile was next on the officers’ list as they crack down on illegal activities by businessmen and foreigners who have become naturalised citizens.

• READ MORE: PNG brothel owners – there is a demand for prostitutes – Post-Courier series

They found the girl among about 20 men and women inside.

They realised that the business was providing other services than accommodation.

The girl, when questioned by the officials, broke down, saying she had been forced to follow the two men by her cousin sister.

“My cousin asked my mother for me to spend a night with her.

‘My mother allowed me‘
“My mother allowed me to spend a night,” she said.

“But [yesterday morning], my cousin said she wanted us to go to the second-hand shop.

“She took me out of the house at 4-Mile and took me to Gordon.

“We met a guy from Popondetta who my cousin said was a friend of hers, and a man from Southern Highlands.

“My cousin told me to keep her friends company while she went to look for betel nut.

“However, she didn’t return.

“And with no bus fare, I was forced to follow the two men.

Paid money to cousin
“They both told me they had paid some money to my cousin.”

The officers found out that the cousin had sold her to the two men for K100 (NZ$40) for an hour of sex.

The two men, released with others in the guesthouse, were tracked down at Vision City, where officers found them with the cousin sister.

They had used the girl to find out where the three were after they had left the guesthouse.

The three were surprised when they were surrounded by ICA and police officers.

They were taken to the ICA office in Waigani where they were interviewed.

The girl’s 20-year-old cousin admitted to the officers that the man from Popondetta was her brother-in-law.

Police detain trio
Last night, the three were detained at 6-Mile police station for further interrogation today.

Police plan to charge the two men with “obtaining the services of child prostitution”.

The 20-year-old cousin will likely face a charge of “officering, facilitating and receiving benefits from child prostitution”.

It is understood that the girl was taken back to her relatives.

ICA officers and police began their spot checks last weekend arresting people — especially foreigners they believe have been involved in illegal activities.

Some are also being investigated for breaching their visa conditions.

Miriam Zarriga is a reporter for The National. Republished with permission.

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

In Papua New Guinea, the psychoactive betel nut is gaining popularity.

Once reserved for sacred events, researchers estimate that almost half of Papua New Guineans chew betel nut, reports the BBC.

It is a heath problem due to rising cancer rates.

The chewing of betel nut, the seed of the Areca palm, is common across Asia and the Pacific.

In this video Taiwanese Chewing Gum, the multimillion dollar local culture is explored.

It is the second biggest local commodity to rice.