THE Honiara City Council (HCC) has announced that all betelnut stalls in Honiara will be closed down and demolition activities by the HCC Law and Enforcement Officers will occur in the second week of September.
This is to prepare Honiara City for the Sol2023 Pacific Games from November 19 to December 2.
HCC Legal Officer, Paul Inifiri, confirmed this during the Iumi Sol2023 Talkback Show on SIBC last Saturday.
“Most of the illegal markets within Honiara City is betelnut, definitely in the second week of September, the City Council will do full demolition from King George Sixth to White-River.
“Especially, the main [betelnut] markets at King George Sixth, Maromaro, Kukum and White-River 02 bus stop. All these markets will be demolished.
“City Council will also do the demolition at the backways for example at Tanuli and everywhere within the city boundaries,” he added.
HCC has designated a venue for all betelnut vendors to go and sell their betelnuts and that place is between Vara Creek and Tuvaruhu.
Regarding the amendment, the legal office of the HCC is preparing a new ordinance which is the Betelnut Ordinance.
The ordinance is now with the Attorney General’s Chamber Drafting Unit and Mr Inifiri said definitely by next month, the Betelnut Ordinance will be ready for implementation.
The sale of betelnut has been out of control in Honiara and HCC believes that a separate ordinance to specifically address betelnut selling and chewing within the city is the best way forward.
By LACHLAN EDDIE HOE
Solomon Star, Honiara
