More awareness is necessary to be conducted within the New Guinea Island (NGI) Region to around the use of Cannabis Marijuana.
The selling, trading and consumption of Marijuana within the NGI region has risen drastically in the past year 2023.
That’s from the Open Bay logging company site community leader Mr. Tony Kebo who stressed that serious awareness operations should be done so people can be educated on the dangerous long-term permanent effects of Marijuana when consumed.
Also, to educate locals by introducing the new law implemented by the National Parliament if caught in selling or consuming of drugs.
Mr. Kebo stated 2023 was a bad year due to Marijuana cases being the most common cases and prolonged as a law-and-order issues in West New Britain (WNB) and other provinces within the NGI Region.
He said he hoped to see more awareness on this matter to also remind the community of the serious threat of this addictive drug and the crucial penalty if caught associating with the distribution or consumption of Marijuana.
Meanwhile WNB provincial government spent over K5 Million towards law-and-order issues in 2023.
Cape Gloucester South Coast of WNB community leader Mr. Maxwell Rima stressed that Law and order issues have consumed 1 quarter of the provincial budget for police allowance, accommodation, logistics, and other.
According to Mr. Rima, the provincial government was luckily rescued by the two well established oil Mil Company’s financial support from East New Britain Palm Oil Limited and Hargy Oil Palm limited.
Mr. Rima believes the law-and-order issue has been a burden to the WNB provincial government and suggests using the provincial funds in a more effective strategy to tackle the law-and-order issues in 2024.