Vendors at Hohola call to city commission for new market

By GIDEON KINDIWA
Vendors at Hohola Market in Port Moresby are asking the National Capital District Commission for a new market.
“We have been relocated from the previous market to this location where there is no water, toilets, or even a fence and securities,” said vendor Stanley Kaiyo from Enga.
He said vendors were facing very serious problems in terms of water and sanitation.
Kaiyo said they should be moved back to their previous locations in front of shops and bus stops, otherwise, a new market should be built for them.
“How can we sit all day under the sun without water and toilets?” he said.
“We are people and we need these services.
“The market is like our workplace where we earn income from.
“We need to feel comfortable when doing our business.”
Another vendor, Jerry Taitus from Enga, said the current location of the market was not suitable for customers.
He said customers were attacked by thieves and properties stolen from them on their way to the market.
“Most customers are afraid to do their marketing here because the location is right at the end of the field,” he said.
“There is no security, no proper car parks and no fence.”
Janet Pape, a vendor from Southern Highlands, said most of her vegetables went bad and she did not make enough money.
“Most customers are afraid to come here,” she said.
“I spend a lot of money to buy vegetables from Gordon and bring them here to sell.
“However, I don’t earn enough due to the condition of the market.
“If a new market is built, more customers will come and this will help us because we are only trying to earn a living.”
National Capital District Commission market operations supervisor David Uki told The National that plans were already underway for new markets to be built in Tokorara and Hohola.
“We already have plans to build new markets and we will now wait for this year’s budget from the National Government,” he said.
Uki said the previous location of Hohola Market in front of the shops was “illegal”.
He said vendors should not move back to that area as it was originally a car park and it would be kept that way.
“We already have plans,” Uki said.
“We will build a new market at the current location they (vendors) are at right now.
“It depends on the funds we receive from the Government in the 2019 Budget.”