By Tere Alex – EMTV, Port Moresby
Following the incident between the police and defence force personnel, business houses in Boroko and 3 mile areas of the city have been badly affected, losing millions of Kina worth of goods to opportunists.
At around eight in the morning, J Mart shop at 3 mile was looted and emptied, the very shop that has been rendering its services to residents of three mile, including the Murray Barracks Defence Force Unit, and left with empty shelves.
The Barricades were placed as early as 5am with owners of vehicles told to take different routes.
Uniformed soldiers were stationed at the Murray Barracks roundabout, while opportunists looted the J’Mart shop, just metres away.
They started off with liquor shop and went into the main shop. White goods, food and clothing were removed from the shelves and instantly sold on the streets; Tablebirds ‘Quick Kais’ were sold at K5, cooking utensils and mattresses were distributed to the public.
Police presence was not to be seen, while the defence force kept their distance at the roundabout as the opportunists went on an illegal shopping spree.
The businesses suffered significant damages to their properties and all business houses’ in the 4 mile and 3 mile areas were forced to close.
As of 1pm today, defence force personnel were withdrawn from roadblocks, following a directive from their hierarchy.
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