Port Moresby as a city has one major public amenities problem and that is a functioning public toilet system. Although, National Capital District Commission (NCDC) as the city’s municipal authority in charge of the city’s public services, tries it’s best to keep the city clean, public toilet system is a challenging one issue.
Most public spaces have no visible toiled facility.
Public places such as bus stops, banks, supermarkets, markets and etc are considered public spaces where a lot of city residents and visitors gather to do business, do shopping and commute to and from work. In most of these places, there is no visible toilet facilities for public to use. Two shopping centers that have visible public toilet facilities are the Range View (for free) and Vision City (VC) charge a fee of K2.00/person to use. Most of the banks and supermarkets have no toilets for public use.
Toilets at the local markets in Port Moresby
The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) as operators of the local markets have toilets at these local markets like Gordons, Waigani, Gerehu and other local markets around the city. However, they are not managed properly and are filthy and unhygienic for normal decent people to use. These are frequently used by market vendors and street people.
Cultural and attitude factors to toilet system in Port Moresby.
Although, most of the city residents adhere to normal hygiene standards, there is also the cultural and attitude aspects of it. Most of the working people have access to toilet facilities at the work places during the work hours. However, a large number of people unemployed and those in the informal sector (street sellers) immigrate to from rural districts and villages to the city in search of a better life just like in any city in the developing nations of the world. They mentality towards modern toilet system cost of operations, like cleaning and maintenance, water, and etc are opposite. They see these government facilities as something that government is obliged to provide at all cost. Most come from villages that use pit toilets, bushes and etc. When they are in the city, the mentally does not change.
As a results, they defecate at drainage systems, back of walled fences, public sport fields. Any spot that they find convenient during the day.
Since, working hours are from 8:00-6 pm, it naturally kind of limits the movement of people from in the public places and contain the situation. If the city trading hours are extended, into the night (6-10 pm) ours like in other countries, the situation could have worsened.
On the cultural side of things, it’s considered inappropriate to ask someone or stranger for toilet facilities in public places. In specific building or facility, it’s OK to ask for help.
So, general information for nationals visiting Port Moresby for the first time or foreign visitors, be mindful that toilet facilities in the public places like banks, supermarkets, markets, service stations and etc can be hard to access or none at all in the city.
If you need to use toilet facilities during the day while doing business in the city in the public places, go to a hotel, restaurant or a shopping mall that has toilet facilities, like the Range View, Vision City and etc
