At a time when businesses are trying to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19, food kiosk operator Amrita Prasad is forced to close her business early.
She claimed youths were using the roof of her Suva bus stand canteen to store illicit substances.
She also claimed drunk youths were being a nuisance and some were pickpocketing the few customers that were brave enough to buy from her stall.
Ms Prasad claimed her biggest fear were the youths who allegedly stored illicit substances wrapped in aluminium foil inside the roof of her stall.
“This place is dangerous,” she said. “Drunkards come and pickpocket my customers.
“Young boys sell cigarette rolls and in the afternoon they drink alcohol in this area.
“If they sell roll to support their family, it’s fine but they spend it on alcohol, that’s the main problem. “And then they come and pickpocket my customers.”
Ms Prasad claimed she often got sworn at after calling out to the boys to vacate the area.
“I sometimes receive racist remarks and they have been doing it for a long time now.
“I close my canteen at 3pm because I’m afraid, all my hard work can be gone just in a minute.”
Ms Prasad said drunkards would crowd at the bean cart area on Saturday morning.
“People normally do not want to pass this area during the weekend.”
Police chief operations officer ACP Abdul Khan said they had increased visibility in areas of concern with uniformed and civilian police officers.
“However, we are urging members of the public to let us know of these issues directly as we do need their support of all community members,” he added.
