Madang Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Robert Baim has issued a strong warning to members of the public, shop owners, and PMV operators to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in Madang town.
Speaking during the second Cleanthon Program for this year held in Madang town, Superintendent Baim led police officers alongside his own family in participating in the cleanup exercise. He stressed that keeping Madang clean is everyone’s responsibility.
“If little children can come out and clean the town, then adults should respect their effort, appreciate it, and be mindful of how they dispose of their rubbish,” he said.
Superintendent Baim warned that starting this week, police will begin monitoring residential and business areas within the Central Business District (CBD). Shop owners who fail to maintain cleanliness around their premises and practice proper waste management will face arrest.
“Starting Monday and onwards, police will arrest shop owners if their residences are not clean and there is no proper waste management,” he said.
He also announced that police will begin full enforcement of laws banning betelnut chewing and smoking in public places within Madang CBD.
“Police will fully enforce the law. If you are chewing betelnut or smoking in Madang CBD, you will be arrested and charged,” Superintendent Baim warned.
The Cleanthon attracted participation from various business houses, government departments, schools, and transport operators. Madang Taxi Services and Paldu Taxi Service were among those who joined the program.
Paldu Taxi Service representative Terroy Kari appealed to the public to take ownership of their rubbish and respect the law in order to restore the beauty of Madang.
“My appeal to the public is for us to work together to clean our town and take back the beauty of Madang,” he said.
Cleanthon Coordinator Eugenie Wanai expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who took part in the program, describing the turnout as encouraging.
He thanked business houses such as Rookes Marine, Sigma Construction, Divine Word University, Tusbab Primary School, Madang District Works Manager Danny Cheng, Kusbau Primary, Vango Supermarket for their weekly Saturday Cleanathon at their front yard, and Equipeplant & Hire Limited, as well as schools like Nobnob Primary School who travelled a long distance to participate.
He urged the public to continue supporting the Cleanthon initiative and to maintain the positive spirit of reclaiming Madang’s beauty.
The Cleanthon Program is part of an ongoing effort supported by Madang Governor and key stakeholders to restore Madang to its image as “Beautiful Madang.”
