Fishy business. The Social Impact of SST.pdf - Act Now!

Speaking of prostitution on fishing vessels, the guard who spoke to Kia said it is one of thereasons why they require security guards to be available of vessels. He said it depends on theguard and the observer, though, because some are honest and refuse to take bribes or otherfavors.. The police don’t have the capacity and the logistics to monitor fishing boats so SecurityCompanies such as the Guard Dog Security are contracted to do the job. But the truth is womenthat come during the dust and dawn (after 6.00 PM and 4.00 AM) are for the business of sex.He told us that we would be going back at after 10.00 PM so we could witness for ourselveswhat happens at night at the fishing boats. He said it’s not his job to chase away women but heis only there make sure the fishing crew follow proper and approved fishing procedures. But atthe same time if any incident happens he will be required to give a full report and in the courtcase he will give evidence as a witness before the court. In his words:I am also here to do preventive duties. To avoid all the hassles for giving reports andevidences I must stop events from happening so I don’t write report. This job is an extraallowance job. We are paid extra on top of your normal pay – it’s the agent in this theSepik Coastal Agencies that pays the security company and the observer team.There are wider social consequences to prostitution that are sometimes hard to see.Occasionally, however, there are glimpses. One Saturday in July, around 1:00 in the afternoon,an angry woman in a worn meri blouse, followed by twenty, and eventually thirty or morewomen who had been sitting at the roadside markets, fast-walked and chased a young womanthrough Wewak town. As this young woman in cut-off jeans and halter top defiantly inhaled hercigarette and swaggered with head held high, crowds gathered to see what looked like a fightbrewing. The women were bent over screaming at her, calling her a pamuk [whore] and tellingher to go find her own man---“Where is you husband?? Where?”At one point a man tried to come between the angry mob and the woman, defending the latterand telling the former to stop now, but the wave of women swept him by and pushed the sceneup Wewak Hill. The young woman took a sharp left and headed into the gated compound of acompany, quickly slipping through the gate and locking it behind her. But not before she hadproven herself arrogantly unrepentant. No older than 35, she had plaited hair and pluckedeyebrows, and smiled while she pinched a cigarette to her lips. From the road her persecutorscontinued to scream and tell her to go find her own man, as townspeople gathered to watch,some snickering, others laughing at the drama. “Asua blong yupela men—husat pullim dispelameri—man tasol?!” I muttered, and men laughed at me saying they like two women, and theylike it when this happens--women fighting it out for their benefit.109