By Jim John
Fresh produce market sellers in Kiunga, North Fly District of Western Province are in dire need of proper market facility to sell their produces.
The local market vendors are continuing to use plastic bags to put fresh produce on top of it to sell on the ground.
The main market in Kiunga has no more benches for the sellers to use and currently has only 48 benches to use, hence it is filled to capacity each day resulting in sellers looking for spaces to market.
A regular fish seller in Kiunga, Bobson Waineta said this ongoing issue has affected all sellers and they are not earning enough money as customers don’t like fresh produce and locally caught fresh meat produce sold on plastics on the ground.
“Public hygiene is important in the market because people will consume the food. Whatever funding is allocated for services must be used wisely and a new established market facility built in town.” he said.
For over four decades, the vendors have been continuing to market their fresh produce on the ground , therefore they are calling on town authorities, district and the Fly River Provincial Government to establish proper market facilities that can cater for them to sell on a conducive environment.
The town authorities in Kiunga cannot give their response to this matter because officers are not active in their duties and had also declined to speak with the Media.
This resulted in illegal street sales and loitering in town, which had increased and there is no good coordination with the movement of people, private vehicles including PMV bus services.
The North Fly DDA when contacted by EMTV NEWS, mentioned that these issues are being noted saying work is in progress to establishing a new market facility in town.
North Fly MP James Donald has reassured his people that temporary semi- permanent market houses will be erected in Sare Kona, Broken Hill, Gregas Kona and Ningerum to cater for sellers while new double storey market will be built in town beginning next year.
