Boroko Market

This has forced prices in markets to sky rocket since last week leaving residents with no choice but to bear with it.

Since the nationwide lock down by the Government, road blocks have been staged at the four entry points into Port Moresby forcing some fresh food resellers to bring in produce the hard way.

Women resellers at the Boroko market say they had to pay for private trucks and taxi’s to bring produce from the Bautama entry point into the city.

Susan Kale from Chimbu province said this is why their prices for have risen up.

Residents along the Boroko Market strip of road and surrounding areas have complained about the increase of petty crime in the area.

Police in response to this calls said they are doing everything they can to curb this activities.

NCD Superintendent for Operations, Fred Tundu said there is also more assistance needed from NCD Authorities to help law enforcement crunch down on this illegal activities.

This means daily fees of K2 will no longer be effective when sales begin.

NCD Market Manager, Charlie Pengi, said market spaces will have to be rented according to the number of days a market vendor wants to sell his or her produce.

Pengi said the market spaces are not for the vendor to own and keep for good and depending on the number of days they want to keep selling their produce; they have to pay for that set amount of days.

One day is equivalent to K2.

NCD market manager, Charlie Pengi, said this after the opening of the new Boroko market earlier Friday.

Pengi told Loop PNG that plans are currently underway to develop small markets within and around city limits.

“Mushroom and informal markets are popping up everywhere in the city.”

He said NCDC is looking at developing those small markets as well to make sure that the population of market goers is distributed fairly throughout the city.

He added that these markets will mainly focus on fresh produce.

The market saw its first lot vendors move in to claim their space to sell their produce.

Vendors pushed and fought against each other at the market entrances to get inside the market vicinity to take ownership of a spot.

Police and security could not do much to control the number of people pushing to get in to find a spot, and struggled with the crowd to force them to move back to the car park area, and organize themselves.

Expected to be opened by NCD governor, Powes Parkop, vendors have been on location since 5am this morning.

Police presence is noted to be in and around the market area to maintain control in the crowd.

A scene is likely to be expected when the governor arrives to open the new market.

This will see vendors rushing in to fight for a space to sell their goods.

More to come.

New Zealand will provide K16.6 million through the United Nation’s Safe Cities Programme in partnership with the NCDC.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop says the government will put at least K30 million into the Gordons market project.

He says under this partnership with the NZ Government, the Safe Cities Programme will rebuild Gordon’s market, using all available space to maximize economic opportunities for vendors, customers and the community.”

“It will be designed to be safe and user friendly for everyone,” says Parkop says.