Gordon market pairs city’s safer, secure plan

Reports by HELEN TARAWA
Gordon Market will complement the National Capital District Commission’s aim of making the surrounding commercial area safer and secure, NCD Governor Powes Parkop says.
He told The National that the market, which is of a higher standard than the previous one, would be opened soon to the public when some processes were cleared.
The opening date will be set by Parkop as soon as the city authorities have decided on the security and management of the market.
“I will fix a time for the opening when we have decided on the security and management of the market,” he said. “These are the delays.
“Issues with payment of the contractors are being managed and should be resolved soon.”
Parkop said the delay was due to the NCDC budget being recently approved and Government accounts being closed.
“The delay is only due to the appointment of management and security,” he said. “As a new market costing a lot of money to construct, we will ensure it is managed to very high standards with very good security. It has to complement and help us deliver our goal of getting Gordon commercial area to be a safe and secure place for all.”
The K30 million redevelopment of Gordon Market is part of the UN Women’s Safe City for Women and Girls programme in Port Moresby.
Set up in 2011, a main function of the programme is to make markets in Port Moresby safer, especially for women and children.
Contractor Fletcher Morobe engaged a New Zealand firm to model the design and perform fire engineering report, using the fire safety verification method to meet New Zealand and Australian standards.