Grants Boost Life Of Recipients In Levuka
Adi Kula Tuivamakula, will be using her $1000 Micro and Small Business Grant to cater for a business after her retirement in September this year. The Verata, Ucunivanua, Tailevu, native was among the 264 recipients on Ovalau, who received their grant from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at Levuka yesterday.
“I will be retiring this year at the age of 60 and this grant will be used to sustain my business which has been on and off since 2008,” the 59-year-old said.
Mrs Tuivamakula has been working at Pacific Fishing Company Limited (PAFCO) for the past 37 years in the Labelling Department.
She runs a small tailoring business from the village.
“I thank the Government for the assistance and with this I will be able to drive forward,” she said. “This grant is highly recommended to push us Fijians and others out there so we don’t have breaks, but continuation in business so I can assist my family.” Abraham Andrew, 43, of Vagadaci, Levuka who works as a merchandiser for Coca-Cola, will use the grant to improve his canteen business, which has been in existence in the past six years. “My business has been there over the past six years, I have seen the growth and its opportunity, but this grant will expand it and there are more new avenues to align my business,” he said. Mubarak Bibi, 59, of Waitovu, Levuka who moved to Levuka when she married, her husband: she said: “Upon his passing in 2012, I continued to run a small canteen together with my eightyear-old child.
“With this grant I will be able to safeguard my home and the canteen, which I have found that few things do get missing at night.”
All grant recipients thanked the Government for the timely boost in empowering them to succeed in their business ventures.