Papua New Guinea Pandemic Controller David Manning has issued a statement on Friday that a purported peaceful march set for November 1 against mandatory vaccination has not been approved.
Manning stressed vaccination is not mandatory but voluntary.
This has been voiced by the Prime Minister James Marape as well but apparently businesses and government departments are placing rules that otherwise impute vaccination to be mandatory for entering a work place or building.
Manning said: "We are in a pandemic that is affecting the globe. PNG is no exception,"
He has blamed social media for misinforming people.
" Vaccination is not mandatory and remains a personal choice," Manning said.
He said whoever is caught spreading this false information causing pubic tension will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.
"Under the National Pandemic Act 2020, I as Controller, have issued a number of measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus. One such measure includes the ban of gatherings of more than 20 persons. This planned protest march is therefore not approved and against the efforts of the PNG government in stopping the spread of the virus."
Manning said the decision to decide specific measures for provinces rests in the provincial administration apparatus set up to tackle the pandemic.
The NCD Provincial Health Authority, the NCD City Manager and the Office of the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent as a body is entrusted with deciding measures specific to the NCD and this includes whether to have a lock-down or not. This body, together with the National Control Centre, also approves events and activities within the city. Accordingly, this body, nor the NCC have approved this planned protest march for Monday.
Manning said the protest if staged would be illegal.
" Organizers of this march will be identified and dealt with. NCD police have been directed to stop any gathering of more than 20 people around the city," he said.
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