Dear Editor – I used to feel the same way my friend James Taranoa is feeling now, when I walked those same streets.
I felt anger taking over, every time I saw what James is seeing now and was thinking of lodging the same sentiments to the authorities.
Some citizens in the past have raised this also in the media, both broadcast and written, but the practice kept going; and even grew larger.
I think the first thing needs consideration is who owns those premises?
The second thing we need to look at is what council bylaw prohibits people from operating business within their premises. And what tantamount to breaking those laws?
I believe James, reading him here has been enlightened on this already after inquiring at the HTC.
But it needs to be clarified to these property owners. If they still don____t get it.
The third thing needs pondering is what type of business practice along these streets the bylaw is opposing.
Which one causes a lot of mess in the streets, so that that law applies to it?
What business type violates the HTC____s bylaws so that penalties can be charged where it____s due.
Because I believe, that bylaw (correct me) is mainly to rid the streets of this dirty betel nut habit, which is messing up Honiara to become like the dumpsite at Ranadi with all its stench and filth.
One just needs to travel a bit outside of our beloved country and see that in many cities, this is a common practice. Shops selling products outside their premises.
Just google up some city names and find out what businesses do outside their shop fronts.
You____d be shocked to see that this is common business practice the world over.
Now speaking of promotions, it is good to look at a calendar year and see when events are happening.
To your astonishment, you would see that in a calendar year, almost three quarters of the year, events are happening and to your amazement, businesses maximize their operation for profits based on these events.
Therefore, after your New Year____s sales, comes the Easter, and then your Valentines, Mother____s day, and so on and so forth until Christmas and the cycle starts again.
So hardly a year goes by without promotions as businesses are commercializing even religious events to promote their products.
So promotion is a daily part of businesses and cities.
The only sad thing however, is that with the Chinese businesses in Honiara, there is no discount whatsoever and so what____s the point in those promotions or sales?
Rip off! Rip off! Rip off!
A point for the authorities to consider.
I certainly do not agree with betel nut selling in the streets, and if the Chinese shops are selling it, then they should be given hefty fines and increase it on second time offenders.
So too with the local people who violate the same laws.
So, while I do not condone nor condemn such practices, it is time as James suggests, for the HTC to clearly spell out those bylaws and licences on which types of business to operate on which areas.
Wake up Honiara City Council! When your residents complain, it pays to listen and address issues.
Let____s keep Honiara streets clean and welcoming, while letting businesses operate, but on legal and good business practice.
Jackson Ray
Fulton College
Nadi, Fiji Islands
