Poor shelter condition disappoints vendors
MARKET vendors in Savusavu are disappointed with the condition of their temporary shelter they have occupied for the past year.
The condition has led to theft cases that vendors have experienced.
Speaking on behalf of the vendors, vice-president of the Savusavu Market Vendors Association Rosalia Suli claimed the fenced walls of their shelter had not helped at all.
The vendors were relocated to the temporary shelter by the foreshore to allow for construction of a new market which has come to a standstill for the past months.
When this newspaper visited the area, there were no signs of progressive work at the construction site.
In 2018, the UN Women gave $700,000 to the Ministry
of Local Government to work in partnership to construct the new market for the vendors.
Ms Suli said they were told the construction of the new market would take a year.
That one-year period ended last month and vendors have remained in the makeshift market while overgrown bushes have claimed the construction site.
“When it rains, our goods get wet and for vendors who deal with handicraft items, it’s a terrible experience because we sell valuable traditional items,” she said.
“Once our masi and mats get wet, it’s a big loss to our business because it takes time to make these items so we hope the council will provide a better temporary shelter for the vendors.
“Some vendors have also had their goods stolen at night. We are suffering a lot and we all hope that something is done to address the issue.”
Ms Suli said they had now been informed that construction works would take a period of three years.
“So this means we will sit in this temporary shelter for the next three years and our business will surely be affected because we deal with expats and business houses including hotels and tourists,” she said.
Questions emailed last month and this week to the Savusavu and Labasa Town Council board chairman Justin Hunter has remained unanswered.
Phone calls have also remained unanswered.