GIVING VOICE TO THE VOICELESS
Issue no# 1- June 2021
TABLE MARKET
reasons. The longevity of the Table Market SME depends solely on the reason for its establishment.
Yet, Table
Market SME is an important contributor to the building up of the local economy
and is essential to the cash flow within the district. I interviewed 5 Table
Market SME owners to divulge their views, challenges, opportunities, and
insights of what they have gone through. Three of the research participants
were male and two were female. The participants were randomly selected. Also I have
no prior knowledge of their educational level and how they were going to give
me feedbacks.
The three major
themes identified in the research process were location, local economy and government
support. With the limitation of this article, each theme and its variables
were briefly deliberated.
LOCATION
The
location of the Table Market is essential to its success and its thriving as a
business. Just like any other business, a prime and strategic location is vital
to the Table Market business growth and expansion.
As blo Marmar
During the
interview, all the participants agreed that “As blo Marmar” (Rain Tree Market)
is the prime location for business.
convenient and accessible. Also, it is the resting place for the general public, as such, the market is readily accessible to them. Further, “as blo Marmar” is within very close proximity of the PMV bus stops. This makes the market an easy accessible shopping area.
A research participant is quoted saying:
“Na taim yumi stap long as blo Marmar yumi
lukim olsem em yumi wokim gud koins long as blo marmar. Antap orait em bikos
crowd ol sa kam ol sa kam long store, kam autsait ol sa stap long market na em
resting ples blo ol man long ples, ol sa sindaun rest na kalap long PMV na go
long ples.”
The main
challenge of this location is its exposure to drunkards, druggies, and disruptions.
Here is an excerpt of the interview:
“Nungut blo em olsem, long Town ol officers blo
town ol ilukim olsem ol pasin blo ol man long drink spak na katim man, distebim
ol man ol mama long maket so ol putim mipla kam daun long hia long displa
reason.”
In summary, As blo Marmar market is considered the
most economical market compared to the other locations. The only setback is its
exposure to the illegal activities of petty criminals.
New
Town Market
According to this research, 100 percent of all the participants agree on the same idea. They all agree
that the new Town Market is not an ideal location for their business to prosper.
One said in
the interview:
“……sales tasol yes olsem ino orait.”
It is
obvious from this research that the new market is located further from the
offices, the shopping centers, and PMV stops. It is very far from where people normally
congregate. This discourages them to do business.
The
research participants also reasoned that, if the shopping centers or other
attraction sites are erected behind or around the new market area, perhaps
their sales will improve.
“Sales tasol olsem ino orait—olsem mipla mas
kam stap autsait tumas ol long disla kain. Sapos em istap klostu liklik long ol
stoas displa kain ating em bai orait liklik ye.”
The interviewees
clearly realized the importance of pull factors behind successful marketing.
The pull factor is created by the establishment of other attractive entities
such as stores near and around the new market areas. In accessing other
services nearby, the table market vendors will have constant visitors at their
table.
Finally on
a more positive note, they all agree that the new market is much safer than ‘As
blo Marmar’ and Hardware.
LOCAL ECONOMY
Cash flow
Cash flow circulation
within Aitape is yet to be established. According to interviews, the participants
in their experience expressed that cash flow is very poor.
“Em kain osem, cashflow blo ples, mipla nogat
cashflow.”
“Cashflow em daun olgeta.”
From the participants’
observation, Aitape is really struggling with its cash flow. There are several leakages
identified in this research from the knowledge gained from the Table Market SME
owners. This research identified several factors.
First, because of the lack of services such as wharf and other agricultural produce outlets, more money has been going out from the District. Villagers with their agricultural products go outside of the district for better prices and quality markets. Secondly, well to do people do their shopping outside of Aitape.
In addition, hardware goods and other services are generally accessed out of Aitape from Wewak and other places. This constantly creates a huge leakage within the local economy that constantly saps life out of the SME businesses.
Two research
participants shared their thoughts:
“Nau yet em olsem nogat gudpla prais long ol
displa samting so ol man ol move longwe longwe long painim prais blong displa
samting……”
“………..olsem ship mas karim ol samting kam
insait long Aitape yet bai isi long helpim mipla long mipla yet market.”
As this
research has highlighted, the Table Market SME business is struggling because
of the lack of cash flow within Aitape. It is truly a setback that must not be
taken lightly.
Law and Order
Law and
order is an increasing problem within the district and is gaining momentum. This
issue is having its tax on the local economy. Table Market SME owners all agree
experiencing business loss due to law and order issue.
In the
interview, a young male participant shared his thought:
“…..as blo marmar tamblo em open, ol
manmeri go kam na baim samting gut but em open ken, planti drug bodies, spakman
tu move go kam.”
The economic
environment at the moment is not conducive for the Table Market SME business to
thrive. Something has to be done to mitigate law and order issues within the
district in order to provide a haven for the Local SMEs and other businesses to
flourish.
Table Market Customers
To those who may wonder about the Table Markets’ Customers, this research unearths a very interesting finding. The major category of the customers that frequently do business with the Table Market SME are village people. It is not the Public Servants, the town folks, businessmen, the well do people, but
ordinary villagers. These are quotations from three different participants. They are quoted saying:
“……….ol lain long ples ol kam, ol bai maketim
ol samting nau ol bai baim samting long mipla na mipla baim samting long ol…”
“……..ol mama long maket tasol ol painim kaikai
blong ol taim ol baim samting ol kam baim lukluk long ol liklik samting blo
mipla ol baim.”
“Ol man bai planim kakau na vanilla na ol bai
gat gudpla mani. Ol bai salim na gudpla money ol bai kisim so so mipla tu bai
orait long market…”
The reasons
why village people are Table Market chief customers is yet to be established. Nevertheless,
ordinary villagers remain the Table Market SME chief customers. To the Table
Market SME owners, this relationship has to be maintained in order for you to blossom
in this challenging times.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
From the
research question of what must the government do to assist the Table Market
SMEs, interesting themes have emerged. There are a total of 3 themes that emerge
in this research.
Agricultural Product
Markets
The Table Market SME owners who participated in this small research have voiced out that agricultural product market is essential. Quality markets for agricultural products established within the district will
have a positive side effect on the small businesses.
“Ok narapla em long sait blong Vanilla na
kakau. Sapos painim gudpla maket blong displa samting, ating mi bilip olsem
money bai flow gut. Ol man bai planim kakau na vanilla na ol bai gat gudpla
mani. Ol bai salim na gudpla money ol bai kisim so so mipla tu bai orait long
market, em bai balance. Ol kisim gud ol bai kam givim mipla gut tu. Nau yet em
olsem nogat gudpla prais long ol displa samting so ol man ol move longwe longwe
long painim prais blong displa samting so em wankain, mipla tu wankain.”
The local
and provincial government’s first priority is to get the agricultural markets
in order. When the markets are in operation, small villagers will be empowered.
They will now have sufficient money to
improve other businesses such as the
Table Market SMEs.
It is
interesting to notice the excess knowledge stored in the minds of the local
population. Indeed, the way forward for this district in development matters is
to have the agricultural markets established.
Roads
Road is vital
in any form of business. The Table Market SME owners in this research strongly perceive
road as a vital cog in their business aspirations. They cannot imagine their
business flourishing without roads.
Here is a
female participant’s words:
“Em
wanpla samting em bikpla problem blo mipla em road. Road em bikpla problem
stret kain osem mipla nidim road long go insait long ol kain ples olsem inland
blo mipla, olsem bush blo mipla displa kain so that ol lain long ples ol kam,
ol bai maketim ol samting nau ol bai baim samting long mipla na mipla baim
samting long ol—nau em bikpla problem em road.”
Through the
building of roads connecting inland and disadvantaged communities, the government
can directly help local businesses to grow. With the roads properly established,
Table Market SME business men and women believe that they will be successful in
their business pursuits.
Wharf
Wharf is
very important. This research established that Aitape Wharf, should it be
constructed or renovated should have a good impact on the livelihoods of the
local population. When asked how the Government can assist them in their
business, the Table Market SME owners said ‘fix our wharf’.
An Elderly
male participant perfectly summaries all the participants’ perception of wharf
by saying:
“Lukluk long kisim ol kampani ikam na stretim
gen sea wharf blo mipla. Stretim ken bris kamap gudpla na meikim access blo
mipla tu bai isi long wanem samting yumi kisim tu kisim tasol long hia or yumi
salim tu salim tasol long hia.”
It is clear
for a coastal town like Aitape to economically improve its status and livelihood
of its people, wharf is a priority. Coastal towns all over the world even throughout
time immemorial have prospered through having and improving their seaports. Aitape
in this regard cannot simply be excused.
KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS
1.
As blo Marmar is economically ideal for the Table
Market SME. Its disadvantage however lies in its exposure to criminal
activities.
2.
The New Town Market is not
economically ideal for Table Market SMEs to thrive. Its location makes it bad
for business at this point in time.
3.
There is cash flow problem in
Aitape
4.
Table Markets’ main customers
are the Village people.
5.
Governments order of development priorities given by the Table Market
SME research participants in their order of importance to their business are as
follows:
I.
Market
for local agricultural products
II.
Roads
and
III.
Wharf
CONCLUSION
This
research has clearly identified As blo
Marmar as the economically viable market location. The only setback of this
location is its exposure to criminal activities. Nevertheless, if the local
authorities and the local government is keen on helping the Table Market SMEs
to grow, they ought to come up with solutions to curb those petty crimes.
The new Town Market on the other hand is not
suitable for Table Market SME businesses. Because of its isolated location, the new
market is bad for business at this point in time. To improve the Table Market
SME business, the authorities have to build stores or other lucrative customer
attractions in and around the market areas to assist the vendors.
In addition, the government in the long run has to assist in the growth of the Table Market SME and other similar businesses. Though it takes time and resources to marshal change, the government however has to provide good market for agricultural products. It has to build roads and wharf to help
small businesses to grow. Further, law and order problems within the district has to be seriously curbed and petty crimes against Table Markets and others has to be mitigated.
All in all,
the Table Market SMEs at the moment are silently suffering with the hope of a
brighter future. Their business is a loss, they are loss for words and their
pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Indeed, they need a very special intervention
at this time to save their business and their livelihood.
*(This small research I believe is shedding
enough light and data for the local authorities to save struggling Table Market
SME business in Aitape).
__________________________________________________________
Note:
This is the
first article of the ongoing series titled GIVING
VOICE TO THE VOICELESS. I will try my best to do small primary research and
publish the findings in this blog https://aitapewest.blogspot.com
at least within a month or two.
This is an
additional information for those who are starving for information. There are
also interesting insights gained at this small primary research which I have reserved
as they are not directly related to this research’s objective. However, if you
are interested to know more, you can contact me for further discussion and
information.
Cheers.
