Vendors thank Parkop for taking land back

By LUKE KAMA
VENDORS at Gordon Market in Port Moresby have thanked National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop for stopping a private company from taking over a portion of land near the market.
Spokespersons for the vendors, Mesta James, Roselyn Mol and Aula Kamane said Parkop did what was right for the people.
“We commend Governor Powes Parkop for making it clear that he would not allow any private developer to take over the land, Portion 56, is the land between Gordon market, Gordon police station and the clinic,” they said.
“This market has supported a lot of families to meet their needs daily and as well as paying school fees and solving many other problems.
“It supports thousands of families not only in the city but throughout the country because some of the vendors here send money to their families back in the villages when there is a need.
“And for Lands Department to give the land away to a Chinese foreigner is uncalled for.
“We also want the current fencing by the private company to be taken off because they are yet to get any approval from the NCD Physical Planning Board as clearly said by the governor.”
The vendors through their executives will be meeting with GovParkop, senior executives of the National Capital District Commission (NCDC), Lands Department, police and other stakeholders on Thursday at City Hall to discuss the matter.
Parkop, who is also disappointed with the acquisition of the land by a private company, assured the vendors that he would ensure the land was kept for public use.
“The land power is with the Lands Department under the National Government but the NCD Physical Planning Board has the power to stop developers from developing the land even they have the land titles.
“Developers can have the land titles but when they want to develop the land they will have to get the approval from NCD Physical Planning Board.
“As the Governor for NCD and chairman of NCD Physical Planning Board, I want to assure the 11 Gordon market vendors sssociations and the city residents that I will not approve the development to take place in that land area between Gordon market and the clinic that has been fenced,” Parkop said.
“Whoever is trying to develop that land, they can take it from me that they are not going to get our approval to develop that land because our plan for the area is different to their plan.”