Inmates and officers from Bomana Correctional Institution, members of the PNG Fire and Rescue Service, Waigani Police officers and NCDC staff collaborated last week in a Waigani community cleanathon aimed at promoting a cleaner and more responsible city.
The cleanathon was organized by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) through its Detainees Rehabilitation Desk under the Social Development Directorate.
The initiative attracted significant public attention, with members of the community joining the clean-up and making donations in cash and kind.
Business houses in Waigani also supported the initiative by providing drinking water, soft drinks and cleaning materials to the participants.
Jeffrey Nehi, who is the Manager for Governance Affairs and Community Liaison branch of the Social Development Directorate, said the cleanathon was intended to raise awareness and encourage people to change their mindset towards keeping homes, communities and public places clean.
“We are fifty years old now and we need to change how we think and do things in our homes, communities and public places,” Mr. Nehi told PNG SUN.
He said the involvement of detainees was important because they remained part of the community and would eventually return to society after completing their sentences.
“The detainees are included in the cleanathon program because they are part of us and when they come out from the cell, they will live here,” he said.
Mr. Nehi said maintaining the cleanliness of the nation’s capital was a shared responsibility and called on residents to take ownership of the city.
“The responsibility lies on all of us. We need to take ownership of our capital city and uphold the 2030 vision: ‘Clean, Healthy, Safe, Planned and Livable City,’” he said.
Meanwhile, NCD Commander for the PNG Fire and Rescue Service, Cedric Luai, acknowledged NCDC for organizing the initiative and challenged the public to change their mindset towards maintaining a clean city.
Mr. Luai also encouraged members of the public to attend church, saying it was a place where people could reflect and change their mindset.
He stressed that the role of the PNG Fire and Rescue Service went beyond responding to fire emergencies.
“We do awareness, run trainings, do inspections and many more,” Mr. Luai said.
He said Fire and Rescue Service members participated in the cleanathon as part of their commitment to giving back to the communities in which they operate.
Waigani Police Station Commander Max Makeso said Waigani is one of the core business centres of the capital, with many businesses and government offices operating in the area.
“Many business houses and offices are here,” Mr. Makeso said.
He urged residents, businesses and authorities to take ownership of the area and work together to maintain cleanliness so people could carry out their daily activities in a safe and clean environment.
“We have to take ownership and maintain the cleanliness so that we can move freely on our daily activities,” he said.
Mr. Makeso also urged NCDC to consider building a proper market to accommodate people who are currently selling their goods along the streets.
He said people continued to engage in street vending partly because existing market spaces were limited, leaving many vendors with little choice but to sell their items along the roadside.
According to Mr. Makeso, the lack of adequate market space was contributing to the creation of rubbish and could also provide opportunities for petty criminals.
He said a proper market facility would provide vendors with a designated place to sell their goods while helping authorities better manage rubbish and maintain public order.
Mr. Makeso said street vending was contributing to rubbish in the city and was also creating an environment that could entertain petty criminals.
He said Port Moresby also hosted international communities, businesspeople and tourists, making it important to maintain a clean and safe environment.
“We must make our city clean so that everyone can feel good and protected,” he said.
Mr. Makeso further stressed that maintaining law and order was a shared responsibility and could not be left to police alone.
“Police alone is not enough, do simple things right,” he said.
PNG CIS officer Sergeant Geno Malu thanked all participants for contributing to the cleanathon, with special recognition given to the PNG Fire and Rescue Service members for providing water trucks and other equipment.
Sergeant Malu said the CIS was partnering with NCDC in conducting awareness and clean-up activities across the city.
He said the partnership would continue, with the team scheduled to move to Gordons next week for another clean-up and awareness exercise.
The cleanathon attracted a large crowd, with the clean-up activity conducted first before awareness programs were held.
Members of the public were also entertained by live music and songs performed by inmates, creating a positive atmosphere while promoting community participation and rehabilitation.