Port Moresby’s market problems

IT is good to hear at last from the NCDC market manager (The National, Nov 21) regarding space allocation at the new Gordon market in Port Moresby, which will be completed in a month or so.
All these times I used to think that there is no person at the City Hall tasked with the proper management of the city markets and fair allocation of space to vendors in all the main markets in the city.
The management team should move around the city and see for themselves how vendors and buyers are doing their daily businesses and the hardships they face.
Can’t you see how unevenly the spaces are allocated to vendors?
Can’t you see how the few Tari and Wabag vendors control most of the spaces, especially at Gordon and Waigani?
Can’t you see how only few people or families from the two ethnic groups are occupying most of the spaces?
Can’t you see how villagers from Central and Gulf are mistreated and forced to sell their produce at the car parks or at the corners next to the rubbish dumps and toilet?
Can’t you see how the few from Tari and Wabag have become so powerful that they control the price of food and vegetables and abuse others who want to sell their produce at a competitive price?
Can’t you see that there is no officer on the ground to control crowd and space allocation?
Can’t you see that a good amount of space is taken up by store goods? Can’t you see that the markets are not user friendly because vendors are selling even on pavements and walkways?
As we move towards the completion of Gordon market, we should consider these.
Space should be allocated fairly to every vendor. For instance, 1.5 square metres per vendor. No vendor should occupy more than his or her standard allocated space.
A ticketing system should be used to allocate space to vendors for up to a week only; no space should be allocated on a permanent basis and no vendor should be allowed to occupy the same space permanently.
Villagers should be given priority over city dwellers and retailers.
There should be market police or compliance officers to enforce compliance of the market rules and solve minor disputes. Officers should be rotated so they don’t become too familiar with the vendors.
The vendors should not be allowed to occupy walkways because that makes it too crowded for buyers to move around freely and it raises the risk of pick-pocketing and other illegal activities.
Allow good competition to happen and provide a conducive environment for vendors who want to sell their produce at good and reasonable prices. This is good for both buyers and consumers.
Market managers at the various city markets should be seen to be doing their jobs competently and not compromising their jobs.
Equal market space should be allocated to all the provinces andnot to only one to two ethnic groups.
All store goods should be banned at the markets, which are meant for fresh produce.
All types of weapons should be banned inside the market premises. Even small knives for slicing fruits should be banned as such weapons can be misused and become deadly.

Grace Murian
Savannah Heights, Waigani