PM Tells Roadside Vendors: Relocate
About 70 roadside vendors in Nakasi have been instructed by the Prime Minister to relocate away from their road side markets.
The directive comes after the vendors went to the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday requesting to meet with the PM in the hopes of having their queries heard. Three representatives from the Nakasi Vendors Association attended the meeting with the PM on behalf of the vendors.
Also present in the meeting was the Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar and Nasinu and Nausori Town Council chief executive officer Anurashika Bari. After the meeting, vendor Sakeo Qativi of Wainibuku, who was one of the three representatives, said the final word from the PM was for them to move out from Nakasi and relocate to an alternative site.
Mr Qativi has been a market vendor for 20 years and looks after his extended family of seven with the income he earns.
He said they were told by the council that there was space for them at the Nausori, Laqere and Makoi markets. However, distance to the market is a problem for them and also a lack of foot traffic to attract customers.
President of the Nakasi Vendors Association Sera Kasaqa, 60, recommended that market stalls similar to the ones at Bailey Bridge be built for them in Nakasi.
They claim that for the second time, staff from the Nausori Town Council dismantled their road side markets on Monday night and took all their materials and stock with them, including pallets, bags of root crops and vegetables.
Akanisi Rabura, 42, questioned why the council staff were working at night to dismantle the markets after the vendors had gone home for the day.
Council CEO Ms Bari said the PM was quite clear in terms of enforcing the law because the market bylaw was clear that road side vendors were illegal.
“For their safety he (PM) told them to relocate to the market, a legal place where they can sell their produce. We have communicated the message to all of them and our team in the markets are waiting for them to come and register and secure a legal place in the market,” Ms Bari said.
Meanwhile, Minister Ms Kumar stressed that they had to create rules that are fair for everyone.
She made the statement in response to queries early this week on why roadside market vendors were removed as they were struggling to make ends meet in preparation for back to school.
Ms Kumar said they did not want a repeat of what happened at the Namaka Market after vendors refused to pay stall fees in protest against road side vendors.
She said though the issue was resolved and the road side vendors were given space inside the Namaka Market, rules were created for everyone.