Police urge people to take responsibility of market

LAE Met Supt Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban opened East Taraka Market yesterday and told residents and users to take responsibility to help stop any nuisance and illegal activities there.
“When people get involved in problems at the market place and disturb others, we don’t take ownership to stop it in the first place,” he said.
Chief Insp Kunyanban told the residents of East Taraka that people should abide by laws.
On many occasions, he said, there were incidents of alcohol consumption, marijuana trading and other illegal activities at the market. “The market should not be the breeding ground for such illegal activities, rather it should be a place where people come to sell and buy to improve living in the city.”
East Taraka Market is one of the best markets in Lae, fresh garden food is supplied by villagers from the Nabak and Labuta local level government areas of Nawaeb.
Chief Insp Kunyanban warned that there should be no more stories about harassment of women, girls and the public or the market would be closed.
He said the market was not registered by authorities as a public market.
The market was closed after some youths bashed up a man from Chimbu and police tried to help the young man but were sworn at by a youth.
Police asked people to identify the person and bring him before them but people at the market were reluctant, resulting in the closure of the market.
Lae city lord mayor James Khay said suburban markets around the city were not properly managed, resulting in illegal activities within those markets.
“This is a lifeline for many in the city where they find enough money to support them in many ways to be able to live in the city.”