Freight subsidy aims to reduce price: Basil

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Government, through the introduction of a freight subsidy, aims to ensure that citizens are able to afford vegetables at cheaper prices.
National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil, who is leading this initiative, visited a wholesale vegetable market in Gerehu, Port Moresby, yesterday where he urged vendors to reduce the prices of their goods as freight costs had been reduced.
Basil said a shipment of 71 containers with 110 bags of sweet potato (kaukau) arrived from Lae on Wednesday.
“Through the subsidised shipping freight, we will have more freshly vegetables coming to Port Moresby,” he said.
“I want prices to go down.
“We have to be careful not to have surplus of vegetables flooding the markets.
“We want to make sure that we have enough coming and not over supplying the markets.”
Basil said the price of kaukau bags should be reduced to below K100.
“We will talk to the Highlands Highway trucks to reduce the cost of transportation to Lae.
“We have initiated this subsidy programme and it is now your responsibility to negotiate with the wholesaler to ensure the price is reduced,” Basil told the vendors during his visit.