Five businesses who were affected by the Black Wednesday riots on the 10th of January this year have received support from the government this week. The National Government continues to honor its commitment to promoting and supporting businesses when it presented substantial financial support at the value of over K7, 691, 000.00. Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu, on Wednesday 28th August, presented over K7, 691, 000.00 to five businesses whose stock and inventory, including buildings, were destroyed, and affected during the riot. Mr. Pomaleu when presenting the grant support to the businesses highlighted that such incidents ought not to be repeated in the future as everyone, including those businesses affected, rely on a safe and secure environment for their businesses to operate, grow, create employment, and offer services to the people. “I have been saying to a few people now that as part of our restoration efforts, we represent the intention of the National Government in helping those businesses and the need for them to restock inventory they have lost, the need to rebuild premises destroyed and burnt during the unfortunate incident of 10th January 2024.” Pomaleu stated that the cheque presentation honors the government’s commitment to businesses affected so that they can restock, restart, and pay wages and salaries to their workers who were also affected badly in the aftermath of the incident. “The incident is what we were all not expecting. It came about as a result of a collapse in policing through a very public withdrawal of services by police officers over pay discrepancies,” said Chief Secretary Pomaleu. He said the National Government will continue to offer its support where it can and encourage all citizens to support the businesses as they provide employment, goods, and essential services to families throughout the country and pay tax revenue for the government to provide other services like health, education, and infrastructure programs. “So, we must continue to support and help build and rebuild business.” “We must also help build a society that can exist in peace and harmony without needing the presence and visibility of such government authority as police to hold us together.” The businesses who were presented with individual cheque payments were; SYZ Investment Limited with the highest of K6, 552, 802. 52, TC Company Limited for K399, 299.63, JYVX Limited K300, 000.00, Pacific Pest Solution K271,120.00, and Food Pro PNG Limited Trading as Buffalo Burgers K168, 000.00 all for the restocking the loss of inventory. The final phase of this support is for the reconstruction of the properties and buildings that were lost in the fires.