Trading at market, fisheries facilities slow since opening

By AILEEN KWARAGU in Alotau
TRADING at the K42 million Alotau market and fisheries facilities funded by Japanese International Cooperation Agency and the National Fisheries Authority has been slow since it opened in August.
Market fisheries officer Sharon Maiseveni said the market had four sections but due to the Covid-19 restrictions, betel nuts, tobacco items and fish were not sold there.
She said initially, betel nut and tobacco vendors had their own sections in the market.
“Of the four sections, we have one for the greens, root vegetables while the informal sellers will move to the temporary market,” Maiseveni said.
Milne Bay Works supervision unit acting manager Wesley Kotobwau said the market was built according to the demands.
“From the old market, there were studies carried out and it was revealed that vendors wanted a shelter for them to sell their crops.” he said.
“The structure of the market was planned for that, but the only inconvenience then was the rainy weather.”
Kotobwau said due to the rainy weather, they had built concrete seats to accommodate the needs of the sellers.
“There had been so much inconvenience in terms of excess to the market facility, but it is slowly picking up pace.”
He said despite the challenges faced by the market, it had changed the image of the province and the town.