More than 12K market vendors provided financial relief costing Govt $5.2M

The Fijian Government has provided financial relief to more 12,800 market vendors across the 13 municipalities by waiving market stall fees to value of $5,243,236.

Minister for Local Government, Education, Heritage and Arts Premila Kumar, speaking during a visit to the Suva Curio Vendors and Handicraft Centre in Suva recently, said the Government understood the difficulties faced by market vendors to sell their produce and products due to the impacts of COVID-19.

“Let’s not forget that during COVID-19, there was a closure of our border which meant zero tourists to our shores and that translates into zero sale at this handicraft centre,” Minister Kumar said.

“You were not able to sell anything and for months the handicraft centre was closed but I must say to you that your president was very active. He had made several calls to me and he discussed your plight, your concerns that you were not getting any tourists, you were still occupying the stalls and how you pay the stall fees.

“And through all this discussion today the Government has waived stall fees for more than 12,800 market vendors around the country whether they are established vendors or they’re casual vendors, none of them are paying any stall fees.”

Minister Kumar said this meant the Government was paying all the municipal council around $5.2 million to ensure that market vendors were not forking out that money from their pockets.

She said the Government was assisting the market vendors through this initiative to ensure they are able to recover from the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which would continue for fiscal year 2022-2023. Minister Kumar encouraged vendors to raise their voice through the association to approach the ministry or the municipal council should they need to raise any concern.