RESPONSE ON GORDONS MARKET

I wish to respond to the report by my esteemed friend Gary Juffa on the state of Gordons Market. His description is accurate but needs an explanation. He talks about piles of filth and sewers overflowing. Please click:

A VIEW OF GORDONS MARKET

We need to understand that Port Moresby is suffering a massive inflow of people from rural areas. This greatly increases the pressure on Gordons market.

At the same time, the monsoon season has just finished with rain and flooding of Port Moresby more than ever before. All low lying areas have been flooded. A large gully was cut in the Poreporena freeway. There is mud lying deep in all low lying areas.

Gordons market lies in a flood prone area. With heavy rain, the water gathers in the market areas. There is a massive amount of rubbish gathered in the market area. This may combine with the flood water and mud. It makes the job of garbage collection very difficult.

If there is no garbage collection for a few days, the market becomes a water sodden rubbish heap. On the footpath outside the market, the sewage is overflowing. It soon flows down the gutter into the water drains.

People of PNG have suffered from cholera but this does not mean that they have dirty habits. Most women cooking for family are immaculately clean. It is the problem of dirty water than brings disease. Faeces in the underground water brings sickness.

The fruit and vegetables in the market are clean though washing at the house is a routine requirement. Most sale goods are placed on clean mats. Cut water melon and pineapple are individually covered with plastic.

The market is not a tourist destination. Few if any expatriates venture into the market area. They prefer to shop at thye supermarkets. As the only white man who buys fruit and vegetables in Gordons market, I am known by all.