Give us money, fix FX quickly: POM companies

**Shoppers at Stop N Shop Waigani Central in Port Moresby last Friday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI**

By ZARA KANU LEBO
BUSINESSES in Port Moresby are calling on the Government to assist them in their process to recovery.
Apart from financial assistance, businesses damaged by the looting last week also want applications moved forward to rebuild and fix the foreign exchange issues to allow imported products to be brought in quickly.
Brian Bell Group chairman Ian Clough said “we pay our taxes to the Government, so we are seeking the assistance if it comes in the form of a relief, and not on a compensation basis”.

City Pharmacy Limited Group founder Sir Mahesh Patel (left) with chief executive officer Navin Raju at the Stop N Shop Waigani Central supermarket in Port Moresby last Friday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

“The Government has a responsibility to address and assist us because it was not the business houses’ doing.”
He welcomed the Government’s offer on tax relief, but said there were other ways “such as helping the physical planning board, moving applications forward quickly so we can rebuild and get our people back to work”.
“Our government can help us where we can to get insurance and to help us buy stock,” he added.

**Workers clearing what is left at Pypon Wholesale in Koki, Port Moresby yesterday. – Nationalpic by PETER ESILA**

He also urged the Government to fix the foreign exchange issue “to allow us to buy products and get our communities back to where they were”.
“So what the Government is going to do over the next two weeks and months is crucial,” Clough said.
Other business representatives indicated that they would not relieve their employees.
On Jan 10, a civil unrest in Port Moresby over a public service pay glitch almost brought the capital city to its knees.
Clough thanked National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop for his quick response.
“I appreciate the help from the governor as it’s going to be very critical for businesses moving forward,” he added.
“As a country, we can respond to natural disasters. While this is not a natural disaster, it has the same effect on our people and the economy. We need to treat it the same was as a natural disaster. So we have our hands up for assistance.”

**Security personnel guarding the Fone Haus Down Town shop in Port Moresby last week. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI**

“We have decided to retain all our workers and will be placed in our other branches. We believe in our staff and therefore have no reason to let them go as the damage to our properties were not their doing.” Clough said the “senseless burning of properties” was something he had not seen while in Port Moresby.
“I would accept looting although I do not condone it but to burn is senseless,” he said.
He said it was going to take weeks, months and even years to recover from this experience, “which is completely unnecessary”.