Market landowners apologise to police

The National National
Malahang Market landowner Henry Bumalom (seated) with other landowners . – Nationalpic by GLORIA BAUAI

By GLORIA BAUAI
LANDOWNERS of the Malahang Market in Lae have apologised to local police and acknowledged their assistance in maintaining law and order in the community.
The market was closed last month following an incident in which youths struck police officers during a routine foot patrol through the market.
Landowner Henry Bumalom said the issue was resolved with the Lae metropolitan command and the market was restored after three weeks. “Just to clarify our stance, we do not encourage drug activity here,” he said.
“But there are opportunists who sell drugs and homebrew in secret and we’ve encouraged the public to watch out for this and report any illegal activity.”