MADANG Governor Ramsey Pariwa has warned Chinese shop owners operating in Madang town to comply with health regulations by fixing their drains within 24-hours as of Saturday.
Pariwa said failure to comply with the warning would result in the closure of their shops.
“Fix all your drains by putting the pipes into the sea within 24-hours or else I will remove your trading licence and shut down your shops,” he said.
Pariwa issued this warning during the first clean-a-thon exercise for 2026.
He was accompanied by young people on the streets of Madang carrying bags to collect rubbish lying on the ground.
Inmates from the Beon Correctional Institution also took part.
Pariwa said the programme would be followed up every month.
“We must all work together to bring back the beautiful Madang by putting our words into action,” he said.
He said that rubbish bins would be placed around town later for people to place their rubbish properly in.
“The first lot of drums that were put last year have been removed as they were beginning to wear out,” he said.