Call to regulate street vending

STREET vendors are easy target for some rogue policemen in Madang.
On Tuesday, several police officers allegedly robbed street vendors at Newtown Plaza on broad daylight.
The vendors were rounded up and transported to the nearby Yabob village where they were robbed off their goods, monies and ordered to go home.
This news spread rapidly across Madang and vendors, in desperate situation, are on high alert.
Such police harassment and assault is not only happening in Madang but in almost all urban centres in the country.
The crux of the problem boils down to increasing rate of unemployment.
A large number of men, women and youths living in towns and cities are unemployed.
The tough economic situation is really getting hard on this bulk of population, which is one of the driving force behind the rise of informal business activities.
Prices of goods and services in Madang is expensive compared to other urban centres.
People are really struggling to meet their needs. Low income earners also encounter financial problems and engaged in the informal sector to earn extra cash.
Although there are designated areas to carry out this business activity, the services of street vendors are more accessible to consumers and users.
Street vending requires a better and proper policy to regulate this activity.
PNG citizen’s have all the right to engaged in any business opportunity to sustain their living and this has to be respected.
If street vending is a criminal activity, venders apprehended should be charged and locked up.
Taking advantage of the current law and order problem in Madang does not give a right to any police officer to harass and rob the people.
If the law enforcing agencies continue to restrict informal business in towns and cities, people relying on these activities will certainly resort to other illegal means for survival.
The government has to come up with workable policies and practical solutions to support this informal business activity.

Luwi James
Madang