Fijian businessman faces major loss in Port Morsbey riots

Following riots on the streets of Port Morsbey in Papua New Guinea and the death of 16 people, Fijian businessman Sir Mahesh Patel who has been in PNG for more than 40 years says it probably the darkest day in the nation's history well.

He made highlighted this following the burning down of his CPL's Stop N Shop supermarkets and Hardware Haus in North Waigani, Rainbow and Badili, and the looting of Stop N Shop Harbour City by opportunists.

He says it is the darkest day - not the loss of business, stocks or properties, but to see how low some people can become and it is disgraceful, disheartening, shameful and brings tears to his eyes.

Patel says they could not send its staff members to assess the damage and losses.

He says they have no idea at this stage on the damage as there are some “no-go" zones and they are unable to send staff to assess in fear for their safety.

Patel says they had closed and locked their stores, but some were broken into and entered upon by force.

He says going forward, they will have to take stock of all the damages and adds that he hopes this madness will stop.

The businessman further says since he first opened a City Pharmacy shop in 1983, situations such as this had never happened and they are in fear for their staff now like never before.

He says every site has been hit, their staff are struggling; fearing their lives and not knowing what to do, baffled, trying to understand why their fellow Papua New Guineans are behaving this way.

Patel adds people on the streets are jobless, starving and struggling to make ends meet and, unless this is addressed, nothing will change.

PNG’s The National reports CPL Group boasts the biggest retail network in Papua New Guinea and was listed on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange.

It has been operating since 1983, with a 2,500 staff turnover.

The CPL Group operations included the City Pharmacy retail chain, Stop N Shop retail chain, Hardware Haus, Boncafe, Fresh Express, Country Fresh Bakery, Cash & Carry, Real Rewards, CPL Medical & Lab Supplies and joint venture partnerships with Duty Free Prouds PNG and Jacks of PNG.

 Source: The National