Curio vendors protest
A CROWD of about 70, mostly indigenous Fijian women, took to the Government Buildings in Suva after being evicted from the curio stall pitches near the Suva wharf on Friday, October 11, 1968.
The Fiji Times reported in the Saturday, October 12, 1968 edition that the women, some crying and some bearing banners – with the allegation that police treated them like dogs – and some men grouped in front of the new wing at the Government Buildings and there complained to the assistant Minister for Communications, Works and Tourism, Ratu David Toganivalu, that the police cruelly evicted them from their pitches between the wharf south gate and Harris Rd.
They were later given a brief reprieve and told they could occupy the pitches until later that day.
Some women cried bitterly as they declared their eviction from an area which they had occupied on “ship days” for many years meant they could not earn the money they badly needed to buy food and pay bills.
Vendors said they should have been given “a few days’ notice”.
While the delegation waited, Ratu David went away to make inquiries and when he returned, he told the vendors they could return to the area and continue selling until that day, then an alternative area would have to be found for them.
He said the area was under the jurisdiction of the harbourmaster and the police had taken action before the harbourmaster was told.
Not warned
The harbourmaster allowed the vendors to return to the area for the two days because they had not been warned beforehand.
Kitione Bagasau, a curio vendor at the market for 18 years, told Ratu David the women were taken by surprise when three police officers arrived.
Some of the women were illiterate and did not understand English.
“They were chased away, some of them looked for other places to sell their goods but others chose to go home,” he said.
Sovaia Saqa, a 50-year-old mother of seven children of Charles St, Suva, said she sold her homemade curios in the area for nearly 20 years.
Ms Saqa said a police officer came along and, without warning, struck his baton on her stall and told her to pack up her goods and leave the area.
“I stood there dumbfounded,” she said. “The officer returned after a short while and said, ‘What are you looking at, do you want me to throw your things in the garbage can?’”
Ilisepa Tauri, 47, of Waibau, Sawani, said her husband worked as a watchman in Suva, but she sold curios to help pay for housekeeping expenses.
She, too, was taken by surprise by the police officers.
“If we are not permitted to sell there, then how shall I earn money to buy food?” she asked, as tears streamed down her face.
Bhagwan Singh, of 51 Rewa St, said he had been a curio vendor in the suddenly restricted area for 15 years.
“The only time we have been troubled is when a Suva City Council man comes around accompanied by a police constable to check on our hawker’s licence,” he said.
“I have been selling my goods in the same place for 15 years.
“If we are not permitted in the area then how can we sell our curios to feed our children?” he demanded.
“We were given no forewarning and, in my opinion, the police should not have been so harsh.
“We were told to go, or else.” Mr Muthuswamy, of 65 Suva St and president of the Hawkers’ Association, said they occupied the area only on days when passenger liners were in port.
“We are not in anybody’s way, if we are to go then why are vendors who are offering their wares on the footpath directly outside the markets allowed to stay?” he asked.
Sereana Tavaga, a 55-year-old widow of Charles St, said selling curios was her only livelihood.
“Who is going to feed me if I haven’t anywhere to sell my curios?” she asked with tears in her eyes.
I have been selling my goods in the same place for 15 years. If we are not permitted in the area then how can we sell our curios to feed our children?
– Bhagwan Singh