A Honiara resident has commended the Honiara City Council (HCC) in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) for the initiative taken to improve the environment of the Honiara central market as a tobacco, betel nut and alcohol free environment.
Hendry Kahui said its a great idea as part of making positive progress for the city.
He said that the launched of the healthy market project last week was commended all vendors.
“Ensuring our health is protected is vital. It’s really good that we market vendors sell our product in a clean and healthy environment.
“We appreciate HCC and WHO for that,” he said on behalf of the vendors.
Meanwhile, Kahui said that in order to maintain the healthy environment the public need to have a healthy mindset and change in their attitudes.
“In order for these policies to work well in a way we want, there has to be someone to implement it and this can be either through increase in the number of HCC police to implement it or manning the market area or tender any private security firm to oversee the area 24 hour,” he said.
He also suggested that the council should their law enforcement officers are patrolling the market areas every hour to ensure there is security for the market vendors.
Not only that but to ensure those selling of kwaso, betel nuts, tobacco and other unlawful activities are prohibited for doing their illegal activities.
“Proving security is very important to ensure vendors’ welfare is protected,” he said.
The clean market project was launched by the ministry of health and medical services (MHMS) and Honiara City Council (HCC), with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The project seeks to create a new friendly market atmosphere, where everybody has a sense of belonging and ownership; a place that promotes ecological balance, upholds dignity, and promotes leisure and learning.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
