BETELNUT TRADER

SOME months ago Port Moresby did a massive cleanup of betelnut sellers on the streets. Well, guess what, this morning our friend in the photo decided he'll go out and do the sale at a corner at Five Mile.

But hang on didn't the Labour Department tell us that there are some businesses restricted for PNGians only. Didn't they tell us that foreigners come into this country ONLY if they have work to do. Is this work for them? And look whose doing the sale? Betelnut selling on the streets certainly isn't good for the eye, but helps the pocket and it certainly helps everyone - even the stray foreigners.

The PNG Labour Department says foreginers come to Papua New Guinea to work in areas where Papua New Guineans do not have the skill. Certainly PNG does not need to be trained to sell betelnut on the street. What's our friend in the picture doing then?

There are reports around the country of these foreigners selling betelnut at the markets in Manus, on the streets in Lae, Madang, Goroka and Port Moresby.

Betelnut selling on the streets of Port Moresby is not good for the country's capital, but stopping it is certainly hurting the little people. They have to do it anyway eventhough the police chase them, they are back minutes later. The foreigners have joined this chase and market situation in Port Moresby and elsewhere.