By WASITA ROYAL
The East New Britain Market Authority (ENBMA) has outlined a legal review for the Kokopo main market and detailed its operations during an appearance on the ENB Provincial Administration’s Gavman Tokbek Show on NBC ENB Radio.
Speaking on the program, ENBMA Chief Executive Officer Peter Lapim confirmed that Kokopo main market has been ranked as the best in the country, a status its management is striving to maintain while improving services.
Mr Lapim also explained that the ENBMA was established under a bill in 2010, which is now up for review before it can be enacted into law.
“All established authorities in the province and at the national level, have an enabling act that sets their legal framework on how to manage the authority,” he said during the broadcast.
He added that a lawyer has been engaged to work on the proposed legislation to, ensure it is fine-tuned to suit the authority’s capacity, with the review expected to be completed by June this year.
The ENBMA currently manages four facilities: the main Kokopo market, another at Tokua Airport, and the other two in Rabaul and Keravat.
Operating from its own annually generated revenue, the ENBMA has a business arm, ENB Fresh Produce Limited, that buys in bulk from rural farmers for resale. Mr. Lapim noted that a vacancy for the manager’s post is currently being filled to proceed with these operations.
The Kokopo market itself features seven buildings for vendors and 12 kiosks in high demand for leasing. ENBMA Law and Order Supervisor Marie Censius outlined the market’s three main rules: no smoking, no chewing betel-nut, and no littering.
“The rules are there to maintain cleanliness and the well-being of the market and its users. The penalties imposed also act as a revenue stream for the market facility,” Mr Censius said, adding that more severe cases of a criminal nature are referred to the police post within the market facility.
With a renewed legal framework and consistent enforcement of market rules, the market aims to secure its operational future.
“Hence, we urge everyone to take ownership of our market, because it is still rated the best in the country,” Mr Censius concluded.