Papua New Guinea’s betel high defies control, convention

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — A ubiquitous sight in Papua New Guinea’s capital is men, women and children chewing betel nut combined with slaked lime and mustard bean, turning lips, teeth and tongue a dark red, and producing a mild high. Chewing betel nut has deep cultural roots in Papua New Guinea’s tribal societies but in the capital has morphed into addiction and lucrative business. “I strongly disagree that the government decided to take so much money and buy the Maseratis when we actually have cars in Papua New Guinea that we could use to transport delegates,” he said. “We could have saved that money to bring further development to the country.” What’s been called Papua New Guinea’s global coming-out party has caused both pride and discord and underlined the yawning gulf between a small well-educated minority and the poor, who include the 85 percent of people living in the highlands and other remote areas.