By Theckla Gunga – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Over 200 fresh vegetable vendors at 9 Mile outside of Port Moresby are concerned about the lack of proper market facilities for them to do business.
For over two years they have been selling their produce on the side of the highway leading to Laloki, in the Central province. It is something that can at times, be extremely risky for them. Vendors who come to sell at 9 Mile do so under a number of risks.
There are over 200 vendors who sell fresh produce such as firewood and other items, and they do so without proper market facilities like water supply, market stalls and proper security.
Julie Topeke is one of the vendors who lines up her fresh good produce for sale, just one and half a metres from the main road.
In 2014, 9 Mile had a proper market and bus stop facility, but because of continuous fights between the settlers and police officers, the market facility was pulled down and until today no new facilities were built, and the reconstruction of the road leading out of 9 Mile has made it even narrower and risky for vendors like Julie.
