Parkop: Market will re-open after committee is set up

By GRACE AUKA
VENDORS at Port Moresby’s 9-Mile market have been told to set up a management committee.
National Capital District governor Powes Parkop said: “The market will only re-open when the community sets up a management committee that will oversee security, collection of fees, disposal of rubbish, curbing of drunks and drugs sales at the market and application of rules that maintain safety, hygiene and good friendly environment.”
Such a committee would be similar to the one that now runs the Waigani Market.
 “When they are ready they will advise me,” he said.
“I have responded to some of the issues raised by the petition outlining their set of demands for resolution but others are still outstanding.
“Some cannot be agreed to.
I will give further explanation at a later date.”
Parkop was responding to a report in The National last week on concerns raised by vendors and chairman of the 9-Mile peace and good order committee Jack Waso that they had waited for too long for the market to reopen.
“The market was closed last August after an ethnic clash between people from Chimbu and Tari, resulting in the death of business manager John Siune Kaupa from Chimbu,” Waso said.
Waso said yesterday his people had waited too long and wanted Parkop to go to 9-Mile to meet with Tari and Chimbu leaders and address the people there.
“We gave Parkop two weeks to respond to our petition last August and it has taken nine months and we are still waiting.
“Parkop has failed his duty,” Waso said.
“This market doesn’t belong to Taris and Chimbus only.”