By Jack Lapauve Jr, EMTV – Port Moresby
There is a complete liquor ban in the Southern Highlands Province.
Provincial Administrator Joseph Catejan, who is the Chairman of the Provincial Liquor license Commissioner, admitted errors in issuing licenses to Kiburu Lodge and Clive Steel club in Mendi.
Cajetan said the Provincial Executive Council and the Provincial Assembly’s decision to ban alcohol in the province, still stands.
The trading licenses are being revoked, and are null and void. “I want the companies also to stop importing beers into the province as the beer ban laws passed by the provincial government is still effective until it is revoked by the same provincial government.
“I admit that I was misled in believing that only the hotel and clubs were exempted from the beer ban but after careful looking into the laws, there is a blanket ban and that includes hotels and clubs from importing and trading alcohol in the Southern Highlands,” Cajetan said.
Correcting media reports that the Kiburu lodge and the Clive Still in Mendi were issued beer trading licenses in January this year, the Provincial Administrator said although he signed the documents, it was an error and call on the two companies to surrender the license because it is illegal and does not give them any authority to bring in and sell liquor to client.
The ban covers hotels, taverns, clubs, wholesalers, and retailers.
Catejan says police will arrest those smuggling or trading alcohol.
