A cocoa fermentary owner in the Wain Erap Local Level Government (LLG) area in the Nawaeb district of Morobe province has raised concerns on the manner in which district authority officials are making things difficult for small businesses owners to operate their businesses. Mr. Kop Tienare, who operates the Gasa Mountain Cocoa from Sibi village in Erap, said SME and other activities are not operating effectively because responsible officials create extra burden on policies and procedures that affects prosperity. “We already have regulations and procedures to follow and get businesses run formally. In SME, there are processes and procedures to follow to get businesses operate formally. That’s part of SME procedures and processes that individuals needed to meet before they are granted eligibility to access full services,” he said. “My concern now is on officers who look after departments, agencies and programs who ask for their shares before they can assist SME operators. This is real and it’s happening. People are asking for money and handouts before they can serve us.” He said the responsible officers should understand that small business operators spend a lot to qualify in operating SME activities formerly. Registering a business with Investment Promotion Authority, IPA, Internal Revenue Commission, IRC and opening a bank account involves costs. “Other costs involves creating cash flow statements and business profiles. And after a business is established, we buy monthly Goods and Services Tax - GST. These costs add on day to day expenses of a business to operate.” “My concern is about the system of giving lunch money and handouts to access services. How can we achieve the national government’s vision of making Papua New Guinea become a riches black nation with the practice of creating corrupt system in the country?” Kop operates a family cocoa fermentary in the village and has experienced the system over and over which has sickened him. He describes the unnecessary costs as extra burden that kills prosperity in a local economy and the country as a whole. He is calling on the government to look into issue and deal with such corrupt officials practicing this.