BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Magistrate Court since Thursday last week, and Monday and Tuesday this week was filled with a surge of cases involving offenders charged with the illegal selling of betelnut in a betelnut-free zone or public space.
Magistrate, Pauline Smith Taroimae, presided over these matters when it came for mention at the Juvenile Court room yesterday.
Broader issues were discussed, such as a review of warrant and issues of summons.
HCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Harry Bisafo, told the court that his team had already followed up on several warrant executions and summons but had faced issues as to limited capacity.
When asked by the Magistrate as to what the prosecutor meant by ‘’limited capacity’’, Mr Bisafo said, ‘’human resource and logistic support, where enforcement officers were only allocated two vehicles for issuance of summons and executing of warrants’’.
The magistrate further asked what else the law enforcers are doing to mitigate this issue – to which he said, ‘’they are doing the same thing, trying to locate and enquiring about connections with the people who might knew the offenders that would lead the enforcement officers to them.’’
Most of the offenders were charged with the sale of betelnut in a betelnut free zone or public place – which is prohibited under the Betelnut Free Zone Ordinance 2023.
The objective of the Betelnut Free Zone Ordinance 2023 is to regulate the sale and consumption of betelnut and betelnut products within the Honiara City.
The ordinance itself makes it an offence to sale, consume, spit, chew betelnut and litter anywhere in a betelnut-free zone (HCC designated areas).
The Maximum penalty the courts would normally impose is a fine of $10, 000 penalty units or 5 months imprisonment, or both.
Mr Robert Madeo is the HCC Head of the law enforcement unit.
Mr Madeo told Island Sun, that the consumers who chew betelnut on the streets are ‘’hardly prosecuted because they normally evade the HCC Law enforcers patrolling the street, as these are on spot offence, rendering only the sellers left out unaware to be charged for selling betelnut’’.
An illegal betelnut street seller who sells his betelnut by standing outside the Central Magistrate Court, who does not want to be named, told Island Sun: ‘’he illegally sells betelnut as a means of livelihood or with a view to earn profit to sustain himself as he is unemployed’’. His experiences reflect a growing conversation within Solomon Islands betelnut street sellers and market vendors.
Dubbed as the ‘green gold’ of the informal sector, when chewed until one feels a surge of energy, its betelnut shells and spitted red stains are at the heart of this influx of cases before the magistrate’s court.
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
