In the early hours of Wednesday morning the day before Christmas, while Taro Station was still quiet, Mr Gordon Tuza took it upon himself to clean up the Buni Market area, a well-known spot for betel-nut vendors.
Armed with only a broken shovel, Mr Tuza worked alone to remove rubbish and clear the market surroundings, demonstrating a strong sense of public responsibility and community pride.
In an interview, Mr Tuza said his motivation was driven by the Christmas season and the need to maintain cleanliness in public spaces.
“It is Christmas season and we have to make sure our public spaces looks clean,” he said.
“As a market vendor, it is also my responsibility to keep these areas clean at all times,”
However, as daylight approached, local farmers and market vendors began arriving from surrounding villages to sell their local produce at the market before returning home to celebrate Christmas day with their families.
Despite the busy festive schedule, vendors continued trading as usual with many welcoming the cleaner environment created by Mr Tuza’s voluntary effort.
Local betel-nut vendor Mr David Vinebatu, who witnessed the clean-up praised Mr Tuza’s initiative, describing it as a timely reminder of the role individuals can play in maintaining shared community spaces.
Mr Tuza’s action highlights the importance of individual responsibility in keeping public areas clean during important occasions such as the Christmas season.
Solomon Star Stringer
