By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Port Moresby
Vendors at Manu Auto Port Market in Port Moresby disagree with the National Capital District Commission’s (NCDC) order to remove the market.
They claim that the market is the safest in the city, and attracts more customers than any other.
The market serves the nearby suburb of Manu, any many other parts of the city.
Most of the vendors at Manu Market come from as far away as Rigo and Kwikila in Central Province.
Mothers, especially, say they normally leave their village at 1am in the morning, and travel to the city to sell their produce.
They camp with their unsold goods at Manu for days until they are all sold.
Vendors say that they can’t go to other markets in the city, and prefer Manu of its safe environment. Some vendors claimed that they survive on profits from this market.
However, nearby residents say the market is not safe. They say that their area is becoming a refugee camp for mothers and children.
Meanwhile, NCDC City Manager, Leslie Alu, clarified yesterday that the Commission has no plans to re-establish the market.
The market was originally set up as an informal market to compliment the Malaoro TST supermarket, which was destroyed by fire last month.
Once the NCDC Market Division is ready, Manu Market will be removed.
City authorities say the market is illegal, and should not be called a formal market as it does not have the right infrastructure.
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