BY KHAMA LINCOLN
Isles Media Freelance Reporter in Gizo
WESTERN Province Government will not going to let betel nut and food vendors to return to the streets and public spaces again, according go Premier, Christian Mesepitu.
He pointed out an example in the provincial headquarter Gizo, where authorities and Police officers have tried and failed many times to totally remove ignorant street vendors, as advices and warnings fell on deaf ears.
He mentioned, the existing state of emergency as a result of the community transmission of the contagious virus COVID-19 in the country as a change factor in removing betel nut vendors in the streets of Gizo town as well as other areas, as reports of community transmission cause people to adhere.
However, he maintains no street sellers will be allowed to return to the streets in the future as the province is soon to administer a market ordinance.
“Betel nut stalls will encourage spread of the disease, so while we have this SOPE, it is a chance to remove them and discourage selling of betel nut in the streets,” The premier said.
He said a market ordinance for the province has reached executive and will be approved during an upcoming assembly meeting, to be an official gazette document for appropriate enforcement by law enforcers.
“And that is when it will permanently remove every public vendor, the betel nut vendors and those selling foods in the streets,” He stressed.
The market ordinance is for the whole of western province and when come into effect will also cover buying and selling betel nuts from outboard motor Canoes at any public area on the shorelines.
