Vendors’ delight – Three TV sets installed at market

MARKET vendors in Labasa will no longer worry about finding a television set during working hours to watch next weekend’s Dubai 7s.

Government yesterday, through Walesi, installed three television sets in the market much to their delight.

Vendor Dharmen Prasad said this was the best Christmas gift for the vendors who could now relax at their tables and watch television programs during the day.

“Christmas has come early for us and we are very happy because the Dubai 7s is next weekend and we can watch from our tables,” he said.

“We don’t have to go early home or look for television in other shops to watch the games. This means we can earn money, sit in the market and watch TV and we are grateful.”

Other vendors were excited about the change, describing the inclusion of television sets as one that would help them relax during busy days.

In commissioning the project, Economy Minister Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum urged vendors not to fight over the remote as they would want to watch different programs.

He said Government had delivered what they made known to the public sometime back.

“We announced that we were working with Walesi to ensure markets around the country were connected to free Wi-Fi and access to television,” he said.

“The markets are places where a lot of people do shopping, mingle and vendors spend all day in the market facility.

“So to ensure they are empowered with knowledge and information, we said to connect them to Wi-Fi and that’s why we are here so please make use of it.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was important for those at the market to have access to information.

“Look after the TV sets and the budget allocation was put in place to ensure Walesi Infrastructure which started at the Namaka and Nadi markets then went to Suva and now in Labasa,” he said.

“In the next few weeks other markets will get connected to WiFi and vendors can watch entertainment programs.”