Sir Mahesh: Our darkest day

“TODAY is probably the darkest day in our nation’s history – well, at least in the 40 years I have been in PNG,” long-time businessman and City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) founder Sir Mahesh Patel said in Port Moresby yesterday.
Sir Mahesh made the comment following yesterday’s burning down of the CPL’s Stop N Shop supermarkets and Hardware Haus in North Waigani, Rainbow and Badili, and the looting of Stop N Shop Harbour City by opportunists.
“It is the darkest day, not the loss of business, stocks or properties, but to see how low some of our people can become.
“It is disgraceful, disheartening, shameful and brings tears to my eyes … it is sad, sad, sad!”
He said CPL yesterday could not send its staff members to assess the damage and losses.
According to available data and statistics, the CPL Group boasts the biggest retail network in Papua New Guinea and was listed on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange.
It had been operating since 1983, with a staff turnover of more than 2,500 employees.
The CPL Group operations included the City Pharmacy retail chain, Stop N Shop retail chain, Hardware Haus, Boncafe, Fresh Express, Country Fresh Bakery, Cash & Carry, Real Rewards, CPL Medical & Lab Supplies and joint venture partnerships with Duty Free Prouds PNG and Jacks of PNG.
Sir Mahesh continued: “We have no idea at this stage on the damage as there are some “no-go” zones and we are unable to send staff to assess in fear for their safety.
“We had closed and locked our stores, but some were broken into and entered upon by force.
“Going forward, we will have to take stock of all the damages. God willing, this madness will stop.”
Sir Mahesh since he first opened a City Pharmacy shop in 1983, situations such as this had never happened.
“We are in fear for our staff now like never before.
“Every site has been hit. Our staff are struggling; fearing their lives and not knowing what to do, baffled, trying to understand why their fellow Papua New Guineans are behaving this way. People on the streets are jobless, starving and struggling to make ends meet and, unless this is addressed, nothing will change,” he said.