New market open

A NEW fresh produce market was finally opened on Friday by Moresby North East MP John Kaupa and acting city manager Frank Ravu.
Its earlier opening was cancelled due to overcrowding of people which was a breach to state of emergency (SOE) laws.
The K2 milllion facilities was funded by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) in partnership with the Moresby North East district office and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa).
In a low key ceremony, Kaupa and Ravu opened the facility which will be primarily for the residents of Erima, Wildlife and Kennedy Estate.
According to NCDC, this was part of NCDC’s market division strategy to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to earn a living and supply much-needed organic fresh produce to the city residents during the Covid-19 pandemic and national state of emergency.
“I am happy to see our new market now open to our residents of Moresby North East and the city as a whole to use,” Kaupa said.
“We want to help our people avoid risk in road-side markets and unauthorised areas.
“The market will also create economic empowerment for our grassroots people and provides organic edible fresh produce to our city residence as part of healthy eating,” he said.
“We have two huge sheds for storage and distributing of fresh produce, two public toilets, power supply for security purposes, running water with a hand-washing basin at the entrance for everyone to wash their hands before entering and leaving the market.
“The car park and market will be managed by our local securities.”
Kaupa said the market would be jointly managed by NCDC’s market division and his district market manager Jack Ninkama.
Ninkama said it was another sustainable impact project for the district.
“Our people from Central can now use the facilities and I am appealing to all residents of Erima/Wildlife to take care of the public utilities and respect, provide better security for the people of Central who will be our major clients,” he said.
“Women, girls and the rest of the public who come to market must be respected and should feel safe.”