K26m market set to open

 By DOROTHY MARK
The new K26 million Madang town market is ready for opening on Wednesday.
After a long delay, Madang mayor Joe Yama and 10 ward councillors in the Madang urban local level government (MULLG) resolved to open the market funded by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (Jica) in a meeting yesterday.
The market was completed in late February but a disagreement between the provincial government, landowners and MULLG over the management of the market delayed its opening which was scheduled in March.
Yama said the delay inconvenienced vendors, especially women, who depended on the market to earn an income to sustain their families.
He said the delay encouraged many markets around the town to spring up and increased street vending which, as a result, encouraged crime.
“We are not delaying anymore because our people have suffered so much,” Yama said.
“We will open the market next week Wednesday.”
Madang Chamber of Commerce chairman Kevin Murray and Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather supported the idea of opening the market as soon as possible to ease the burden of women going out of their way to earn an income for their families.
That decision, however, did not go down well with Madang MP Nixon Duban, who had wanted Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to open the market and announce the repair and upgrade of the Madang Ramu Highway.
Duban said the market was funded by Japan so Madang people should come out in a big way to thank the Japanese government and its people for their assistance.
He suggested that it would be better if O’Neill opened the market next month.