By: Jim John
With the current high cost of living being experienced across the country, the people of Western Province are also feeling the pinch of inflation.
The cost of necessities in major towns in Daru, Balimo, Kiunga and Tabubil have affected the lives of ordinary citizens.Locals say high cost of living is an economic drain this Christmas and New Year’s eve.Prices for all store goods including fuel and other businesses in the province had increased.
A concerned resident in Kiunga, North Fly District, Lenard Degan, says high cost of living is not good as they have been feeling the pinch of inflation.
It is confirmed that prices of store goods in all shops in Kiunga town has been tripled resulting in residents not affording their much needed necessities. Another resident from Lake Murray, in Middle Fly District, Susan Waum, says prices for goods at the Chinese shops in Middle Fly has increased.
She mentioned that that a 10KG rice bag that used to be sold at K49.90 now had increased to K60 for all 10 kg rice bags.She said this is not right, therefore some control measures should be put in place.
A former employee of Ok Tedi Development Foundation in Kiunga, Mike Hapot reiterated that mining operating in Western Province does not mean all people have money to buy things but in reality, the people of Western are struggling to sustain their livelihood due to high inflation.
EMTV NEWS has confirmed with prices of rent, necessities and fuel prices in the province that it has tripled such as price of noodles used to be K1.00 before but now are selling at K2.00
People living in villages along the Fly River delta system in big time have felt the pinch of inflation due to high fuel prices.
Families in four districts within the province are facing the struggles of affording basic necessities for the house as inflation has hit the country, thus this issue needs to be addressed.
It is understood in July this year, Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto and Western Provincial Administrator Robert Kaiyun have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Independent Consumer Competition and Commission and Western Provincial Administration to control price of goods and services in the province but nothing has been done to date.
The people of Western Province are now calling on their leaders and the Fly River Provincial Government to liase with ICCC to control prices in the province.
Attempts made to get comments from Governor Yoto and Provincial Administrator Robert Kaiyun regarding this matter were unsuccessful.
