By Quinton Alomp – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The new year is three days away, but business will be as usual for one couple in Port Moresby who sell vegetables for a living.
Fifteen years have passed but for Mio Sero and his wife Jenny Sure, tilling the soil and selling the produce they make from it will be the same for 2016.
Sitting under their makeshift shelter on the roadside near the National Development Bank (NDB) headquarters in Waigani, Mio and Jenny started selling vegetables, fruits and greens since 2000.
Mio, 41, from Henganofi in Eastern Highlands province have limited plans for the new year. His Kainantu wife says despite excitement building up for the new year and people thinking of resolutions, for them tilling the soil is business as usual.
The couple married 20 years ago and have five children. Two of them are in high schools in Gerehu and Kainantu respectively.
“Mi save baim skul fee bilong ol pikinini, bus fare go na kam lo skul na kaikai bilong haus usim money mi makim lo market,” Jenny said.
(“I pay for my children school fees, bus fare to and from school and food for the house using the money I earned from the sales.)
“Mi save makim olsem K200 and K300 lo wanpla day,” said said.
(“I make around K200 to K300 per day.)
The couple rent a unit at the Erima settlement in Port Moresby.
Mio said the market is popular but they need proper shelters.
New year day (2016) is three days away and like many vegetable growers in the city, they are hoping the conditions of city markets like the Gordons market be improved next year.
Despite NCD Governor’s assurance earlier this year for Gordons market to be renovated, regular market vendors are still waiting.
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