Market fees waiver over, vendors unhappy
The waiver for market fees expired yesterday. The waiver was put in place by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar, to assist market vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result of the expiration, many vendors were not in a celebratory mood.
Sunila Lata, who has been a vendor for more than a decade, said she was not happy with having to pay her daily rate of $0.85 per stall.
“Business is very slack and I can’t afford to pay my fees,” she said.
“Though I can’t always have it for free, would the Government consider keeping it that way until things get back to normal?” She added that her biggest challenge right now was competing with the farmers.
“There are vendors who are farmers who are selling for really cheap and I can’t compete with that.
“The prices of crops aren’t regularised so there is no margin.” Sisilia McGoon, who is a handicraft vendor, said she had already paid a month’s rental.
“As a business lady I understand that the council has to run like a business,” she said. “Though I don’t have much business happening, this is the risk of loss I am willing to take.
“They provide me with the facilities and since I have accepted and use them, it is my responsibility. I have to pay.”
Market car park
Meanwhile, there were issues to do with the market car park which needed to be addressed. The more-than-$6 million market had started charging $1 per hour for parking at the car park. This was not received well by members of the public, so many chose to park elsewhere.
There is a car park owned by the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) that is right across the market car park where cars park for free.
Rakiraki Market manager, Suria Nand, said that the council has been given authority to use that carpark by the Fiji Roads Authority.
“The council is grateful to FRA for allowing us to use the other carpark,” Mr Nand said. “Though these are trying times, most vendors don’t realise we too are struggling to make a living.
“If we don’t make an income, we will be forced to close down as a town council.
“This will allow us to make some money so that we can afford the other plans and projects we have in the pipeline.”