By Eric Haurupma (UPNG Journalism Student) – EM TV, Port Moresby
People engaged in the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector around the national capital district (NCD) have raised concerns in the hope that the government will build markets for them to sell their goods.
While Papua New Guinea prepares itself for the upcoming 2015 Pacific Games and the APEC Summit, creating markets in the NCD would provide an avenue for these people to sell their goods, rather than using the streets and bus stops as market places.
With the country’s growth, the population of people living in the nation’s capital has increased. Many people in the NCD have engaged in the SME sector by selling goods on the streets to earn money.
Prisilla Michael is one who sells store goods like soft drinks, mobile phones and other accessories; she has been involved in this sector to make a living over the years.
Despite receiving threats and harassment from law enforcement agencies while selling goods in public places, this is their way of making a living in the city.
Many of them usually sit under the sun to sell their goods on makeshift tables or along pavements besides office buildings and stores.
As the sole bread-winner for her family, another vendor Saina Thomas says the money she earns is mainly used to buy food for the house and pay for school fees for her children.
These vendors are hoping that with upcoming 2015 Pacific Games and the APEC Meeting more opportunities will be created for the SME sector.
Providing markets for these people in the SME sector will help reduce street sales in the NCD, they say.
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