Kava ban seen as negative by elder

THE Federal kava ban will destroy a $1.4 million dollar industry in a remote community, it was said last night.

Yirrkala traditional elder and kava licensee Djuwalpi Marika said the northeast Arnhem Land community made $532,000 from kava sales last financial year – which all went back into the community for needs.

“We used that money for infrastructure and maintenance, basically all the things the Government would not pay for,” he said.

The community spent about $300,000 last year covering the roads in bitumen and still had money to pay for a heart monitor and a night pareol.

Kava could be bought legally from five East Arnhem communities until June when the Federal Government outlawed it.

Mr Marika said the intervention was ill thought out and that the community had its own plan to deal with alcohol abuses which it was implementing in partnership with the Territory government.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 11 Aug 2007
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Reporter: Nick Calacouras
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au