Vendors counting losses in landslide
Vendors were yesterday counting their losses after a landslide hit the Suva Flea Market during heavy rain. The market vendors were thankful that the landslide happened in the weekend when no one was there. According to Ruci Marama, 50, from Lau: “If it had happened in the day, someone might have gotten serious injuries.” Mili Liku, 67, from Tailevu said: “This morning I had to rush in here to see what has happened. All my clothe materials and some other stuffs are damaged even my sewing machine is now wet. I think I’ve lost over $5000 today. I don’t know what to say.” Wati Koroi, 49, of Namuka-iLau said: “I don’t know where to start, I’ve been doing this for over 15 year. All of my things are wet and gone. I’ve lost nearly $3000 today, and it’s a big loss.”
Director of Kelton Investment, which owns the Flea Market, Tony Ah Koy, said: “The landslide is because of the road at the back.” He said they had been raising this concern to the Fiji Roads Authority for almost three years now, and so far nothing had been done. “Now this is what has happened. It has nothing to do with us. It’s not our problem. We are victims of it,” he said. Mr Ah Koy added that they would be working on the compensation for vendors. The FRA said it was looking into the issue.