The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce has condemned the recent ethnic clashes between people from Enga and Hela provinces in the Papua New Guinea capital.
The fighting saw three people killed while several others were injured.
The Post Courier newspaper reports the chamber's chief executive David Conn calling the behavour barbaric.
He says the primitive alcohol-fuelled violence could be solved quickly and efficiently by a police force which was equipped and committed to stamping out such behaviour.
Mr Conn said the National Capital District Commission should also shoulder some of the blame for the state of their market places, and step in with heavy security provided by qualified companies.
He said a crackdown by police riot squads on issues like public drunkenness, threatening behaviour, abusive language and carrying of weapons like bush knives would send a message.
