by Jacob Niru – EM TV, Port Moresby
NCD Governor Powes Parkop says the city rangers have no power to issue any vacation notice to market vendors in the capital city.
Governor Parkop, currently out of the province, told EM TV of a recent complaint raised by vendors at the back road towards Waigani Market.
The market, located near the Festival Village, is where many residents come to buy fresh vegetables and cooked garden food.
The vendors’ complaints came after a recent vacation notice issued to them by city rangers. The NCD Governor says the city rangers have no power to exercise such duties without the authority of the office of the Governor or the NCD City Commission.
“I am not aware of this and never authorised the issuing of [any] such notice. I don’t think the NCD city manager or his deputy city manager, Mr Kiap is aware of such a decision.
“City rangers have no power to issue such notice. They are only tasked to deal with betelnut and not other vendors,” he said.
The governor clarified that the mandated task of the city rangers is to deal with betelnut vendors and not others.
The Governor’s comments follow recent complaints from vendors at the back road towards Waigani Market.
Mothers have said that the market has been their only means of survival for 15 years in the capital city.
They said the market was formally a high crime zone before their occupation. However, since their occupation, all crimes including car theft, rape and other lawlessness have totally gone.
Buyers also believe that the money spent effectively sustains the living of the sellers and they strongly supported the concerns raised by the vendors.
They said the market is one of the places where many public servants and PMV passengers drive in to buy vegetables.
Meanwhile, Governor Powes Parkop further clarified that he is not aware of the notice issued by city rangers. He has vowed to deal with it.
Jacob Niru is a UPNG Journalism student.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=FI-guYrrPJo%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
