Central will control fresh produce into city: Governor

CENTRAL governor Robert Agarobe says fresh produce brought into Port Moresby by Central farmers would be controlled.
Agarobe’s comments are in relation to the current 14-day lockdown placed by the Government to control the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the state of emergency, there will be no travel between provinces.
“We know that our people need money to survive through what they are selling, so we want to keep that venue open,” he said.
“We understand that once Central goes into total lockdown, the city is going to have a hard time.
“About 70 per cent of the population in the city live off the informal markets. They sell whatever they get from the people of Central.
“They put a mark-up on and from that mark-up, they then make a living in the city.
“We shut this down, the informal sector will be hard hit. So we want to keep that route open.”
Agarobe however said during the lockdown period, all major roads would be blocked which stops farmers from coming into the city.
He said the Central government was in discussion with the National Capital District governor Powes Parkop to give a market to the people of Central.
“We are in discussion with NCD governor to give us a market.
“We want a permanent market,” he said.
“Those are the requests that we put in and NCD is going to decide which market they are going to give us, either Koki or Boroko market that has to be handed over permanently.