Mother Beats Loneliness
To beat loneliness, mother of two, Yasnita Pillay Nadan’s secured a stall at the old Rakiraki Market and was forever grateful for that decision.
That was three years ago when her two daughters left Rakiraki to attend university.
The mother of two is one of the more than 100 vendors relocated to the new $6.3 million market.
“I am so proud to be given this new, clean and safe environment to carry out my small business,” Mrs Nadan said.
“I stayed home tending and mending, doing domestic duties like other housewives and mothers,” she said.
“My daily routine then was family chores and looking after my family.
“After my girls left for university I felt lonely so I decided to try vending.
“I have not regretted this as I am very fortunate to be located in a very comfortable and secure spot. “Though vendors don’t get as much respect as other forms of employment I believe we have a bigger space then most office managers.”
“Like everyone else who has moved to the new market, this is
Yasnita Pillay Nadan and her husband Manoj Naicker at Rakiraki Market on June 11, 2020.
spacious, convenient and secure.” Ms Nadan said her only concern was the prices at which farmers were selling their produce.
“I respect farmers for their hard work but it’s trying times for all of us.
“If they could be mindful of the situation we’re in to help everyone buy food.
“We have our regular customers and we know those struggling to put food on the table.
“If farmers raise their prices it places us in a tight situation as we need to recover costs.”
Sisilia Bose McGoon, a handicraft vendor’s is thankful to those who made the new Rakiraki Market possible.
Ms McGoon has been a vendor for more than 10 years.
“To witness and be part of the historical event of its opening was unimaginable,” Ms McGoon said. “This would not have been possible without those who worked hard to help complete the project,” she said.
“I chose to be a vendor years ago because I wanted to be independent.
“Such an environment is a booster to everyone, us vendors, the administrators, the customers and more so the people of Rakiraki and the province of Ra.
“The opportunity that this Government has provided has made it worth every obstacle I have had to overcome.”
Ms McGoon says all her items are locally made most of which she makes herself.
The mother of one said: “The Government has invested millions to create more opportunities for the people of Ra. It’s up to us how we utilise that and use it to better our standard of living.”
The new Rakiraki Market was officially opened by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
With the space to cater for 320 stalls, 30 beds, and ample washrooms and showers, the new market is the biggest building in town.
Operating only at half capacity now, because of COVID-19 health restrictions, the locals hope to get past that and have everyone under the same roof.
The market accommodation with 30 beds was funded by the UN Women’s organisation to house women vendors who needed a place to rest.