NO RE-DEVELOPMENT OF KAVIENG MARKET, VENDORS CALL FOR EXPLAINATION
PICTURE CAPTION: Kavieng Market in the heart of Kavieng town, the provincial capital.
BY FRANKIY KAPIN
IT has been 3 years now after an assurance for the refurbishment of the Kavieng Main market under the current Kavieng MP, Ian Ling Stuckey, through a US$10 million external funding.
However since then, it has taken prolonged years of waiting for the redevelopment of the main market, located at the heart of the provincial capital, of New Ireland province.
The Kavieng market a facility of the Kavieng Urban Council through the Kavieng District Development Authority remains an eye sore for the general public and have deteriorated over the years under the watchful eyes of concerned authorities as sellers and the general publics are left in the dark as to when the expected developments will commence.
But more so, the market sellers and subsistence farmers from throughout the province who converge in this central avenue to sell their produce.
Mativa Stanley from Lasigi village in Sentral Niu Ailan and a local farmer says the current continuous strong winds and rains has been a real strain on mother’s as well men selling their produce at the market.
She added this is a prolonged issue and they cannot go on like this waiting for rehabilitation of the Kavieng market.
She called on candidates running for the by election underway to put politics aside and improve the market for the people of New Ireland.
Talks of refurbishing the Kavieng market hangs on the fence for more than 10 years now and until 2023 under the current Kavieng MP, Ian Ling Stuckey, assurance was provided for a new Kavieng market through a US$10 million external funding.
Dorian Wilson from Lelet in Namatanai district and a mother frequently selling her produce at the market supported the call that elected leaders in the province to prioritize the market redevelopment as it’s been long overdue.
“It is a long overdue improvement,” Wilson said.
Three years later and there are no signs of work taking place as mothers and the elders who rely on the Kavieng market to sell their produce and make ends meet are crying to see the change they have been waiting for.
