Local Leaders of Bulolo District LLG in Morobe raised concerns over the abuse of alcohol in their communities in the Hidden Valley Mine impacted areas.
Watut LLG President, Waka Daimon and the councillors supported the call of the public in Lae and the Provincial Minister for Liquor Licensing, James Khay, to ban the newly introduced alcohol beverages.
Daimon said the widespread abuse of alcohol is a national issue that must be addressed quickly.
Watut Local Level Government is located in the Bulolo District of Morobe with twelve ward areas where the Hidden Valley Mine is located.
According to the ward councillors, the abuse of alcohol at home and in the public place is common in these areas.
The councillors said, whilst the local leaders and the police are trying their best to address illicit alcohol, the new alcohol beverages are making matters worse.
This concern comes weeks after Morobe’s Provincial Minister for Liquor and Licensing and Lae City Lord Mayor, James Khay responded to the call of the Lae’s seven communities who called for a ban on the new alcohol.
The Mayor responded after a two week campaign by the community on the media, calling on the government to ban the new alcohol, or to review laws governing the production, sale and consumption of alcohol.
Morobe Governor, Ginson Saonu also supported the concern raised by the women and said his office would seriously look into the issue through the liquor licensing board that was appointed two months ago.
EMTV News spoke to the Morobe Provincial Liquor Licensing Office in Lae to get a response and found out that there are only three officers attached with the Provincial office.
EMTV also confirmed that there hasn’t been any existing board over the past years, and the officers continued to approve liquor licenses for businesses to trade.
The office couldn’t provide records of how much was collected as revenue from issuing of licenses because the officer claimed that the computer system was out of order and that they have moved offices.
