In Port Moresby today

With less than two years to go before the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby begin on July 14, 2015, the national capital of Papua New Guinea has a mammoth task on its hands.

Papua New Guinea is also bidding to host the APEC Leaders’ Summit in 2018, the biggest-ever event the country will get to host, which will bring together some of the most-powerful world leaders.

Infrastructure costing millions of kina has to be built, manpower has to be built, and the city has to be beautified to be presentable to the thousands of visitors who will be in Port Moresby at that time.

The amount of trash and plastic in the main Port Moresby city drain, behind Erima leading into the Jackson Airport and which eventually runs into the rivers and sea, is unbelievable! I took a stroll from Erima to the airport today and the place was chock-a-block.

One of the most-despicable habits in Port Moresby, despite its obvious economic benefits to many people, is general littering and spitting of buai, the Tok Pisin word for betelnut.

Singboard to Jackson Airport has been spattered, which shows the lack of respect and care by people.

Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea seem to be turning a blind eye to the problem as they are being painted red all over.

The Australian Prime Minister arrives today and, needless to say, one would have expected Jackson Airport to be spic-and-span. But look at this drain (right) which runs through the airport.

 

People spit buai and litter as they see fit with no respect whatsoever for rules and laws.

Filthy Gordon Market today.

Gordon Market today.

Buai pekpek (betelnut shit) outside JMart Erima today in a city that will host the 2015 Pacific Games and maybe APEC 2018.