From resorts to cane fields
FORMER hotel workers Viliame Tagisaya and Semi Waqa are now labourers in a sugarcane farm.
Three weeks ago they made the switch from greeting tourists daily to battling the scorching heat in the cane fields of Drasa, Lautoka. They have accepted the cards dealt to them by COVID-19 and said they were ready to accept whatever came their way.
A team from this newspaper caught up with the duo cutting cane yesterday.
Mr Tagisaya previously worked at the activities department of a Denarau, Nadi resort while 26-yearold Mr Waqa was a groundsman at an island resort.
“We have been home ever since the pandemic hit and decided we have to do something to help our families so we started our journey as cane labourers three weeks ago,” Mr Tagisaya said.
“At first it was hard because it is something totally different from what we used to do, but we have learnt that life is about learning to accept what comes by and just learn to go with the flow.
“Working in the cane field is a lot different compared to that in the resort because by the time the sun is up, we are already half way into our daily routine. But we have learnt so much in the past three weeks.”
Mr Waqa, said he had to do something to support his wife and two-year-old twins.