Lease delays market reopening

 THE Central Market at Boroko, in the capital, remains idle because the provincial government cannot adequately hold discussions with the National Capital District Commission to have it reopened, says NCD Governor Powes Parkop.

Parkop told a media conference yesterday the market was located on land that belonged to the commission but was leased to the Central provincial government so farmers could market their produce in the city.

“The problem today is that the Central provincial government wants to have the land title before they open the market,” he said

Parkop said the commission could not transfer the title because the land was a prime area within Boroko.

“As long as I am the chairman of the commission, I will not allow the title to be transferred but we can lease the area to the Central provincial government and this is negotiable,” Parkop said. 

He said the Central administrator was a member of the commission and it was his responsibility to bring the matter up.

“The Central provincial government can sign a 30-year lease with the commission to open the market as soon as possible.”

Parkop said he did wanted the market reopened so the people of Central could benefit. He said he was ready to help the Central provincial government.

“The Central provincial government must come up and talk to us so that we can reopen up the market.