Fish agency addresses complaint

Fish agency addresses complaint

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the city fishery agency guaranteed
fairness in allocating space in the new North Jakarta fish market
to 220 regular fish vendors from the old fish market as soon as
possible.

He denied that the agency granted new vendors a larger space
than regular auctioneers at the new Muara Angke market.

On Tuesday, around 30 fish vendors filed complaints with the
council's Commission B for Economic Affairs, saying the agency
had given smaller auction space, lapak, to 264 new Muara Angke
fish vendors.

According to regular vendors, new vendors could secure up to
18 lapak while they only received no more than six.

One lapak is equivalent to two square meters. The protesters
said around 120 of 220 regular vendors already got an average of
six lapak.

Head of the agency, M. Rahardjo, said the agency would
prioritize regular vendors from the old market. He said only 114
new vendors obtained auction space. There were 870 lapak
available in the new market.

Rahardjo admitted that the success of the Muara Angke fish
market had motivated people to hold auctions there and each
seller demanded special attention.

He also said several new vendors "dramatized" the problem
which initiated the arguments.

"We are going to provide auction space to regular fish vendors
soon," Rahardjo said, adding that the agency would distribute
auction space by drawing a lottery.

Fish vendors who completed all three requirements -- having a
sales permit and Jakarta identification card, as well as paying
necessary government fees, would receive auction space. (10)