MOTHER of four Luisa Taga Momoyalewa has been at the helm of a boat transfer business in the Malolo Islands after losing her husband in 2021.
Renaming the business to Boys Kece Surf and Staff Transfer, Mrs Taga has not let her personal loss stop her from continuing the family business started by her father-in-law more than 20 years ago.
With more than 10 fibre glass boats in her fleet, the transfer operates between Yaro Village and neighbouring resorts where villagers are employed.
Ms Taga said they also offer surfing tours for international and local surfers who flock to the Malolo group of islands for its world class surfing.
She said since taking over in 2021 her dream was to grow the business and establish a secure future for her sons.
“This requires a lot of sacrifice and a lot of prayers,” said Ms Taga.
“Even though it is a sole trader business, I have a lot of support from my boat captains and my family and relatives.
“It takes a whole village to run a small business like this and I want my sons to grow and see that through hard work and sacrifice they can do this too.”
The Yanuya villager said she hoped to one day pass on the business to her eldest son.
“It is a family run business, and I want my sons to continue it and give it to their children.
“My husband, their father before him ran this business too and I want them (sons)to continue it for him and for our family.”
Ms Taga was the recipient of the Integrated Human Resources Development (IHRD) grant from Government that allowed her to expand her fleet.
“With this assistance I was able to buy two brand new boats and an engine. It makes our business more efficient by having new vessels that we can operate and transfer our people in.
“It also reduces our maintenance costs, and we are able to operate more frequently.”
