30 years later better stalls bring tears
For more than three decades Chandra Kumari has been selling her farm produce from an old corrugated iron makeshift shelter along the Queens Highway near Lomaiwai in Nadroga. She was in tears when the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Koya officially handed over a $20,000 semi-permanent stall to the 54-yearold and her fellow vendors yesterday.
“For decades I’ve been selling farm produce from this roadside and no Government has ever helped me at all,” the market vendor said.
“The conditions of our previous stalls were not good and sometimes we had to stop selling on rainy days because we got wet.”
Ms Kumari was among nine market vendors between Sigatoka and Nadi who received new roadside market stalls yesterday.
She couldn’t hold back her tears after receiving the new clean spacious facility.
“The new stall has come as a blessing for my family,”Ms Kumari said.
“In a good week we can earn more than $500 and we just want to thank the FijiFirst Government for its great assistance. This is the main source of income for our family.”
Another market vendor of Sovi Bay, Sigatoka, 26-year-old, Luisa Vasuinobu said she depends on selling vegetables to financially support her family.
“I really want to thank Government for its assistance, my husband and I have taken over the business ever since my father was bedridden after he suffered a stroke,” Mrs Vasuinobu said.
“The new market stall will attract customers to our stall and it will really help our business.”
Edited by Percy Kean