A WEEK-LONG wait for shipping services to resume has left harvested dalo for export from Taveuni damaged, adding to growing losses faced by businesses affected by supply disruptions on the island.
Krirup Investments PTE Ltd manager Raveena Chand said the company’s dalo export operations were hit after produce remained loaded in trucks while waiting for transportation to mainland markets.
“Some of the harvested dalo was damaged because of the long wait, resulting in losses for the business,” she said.
Ms Chand said the shipping disruption had also affected the company’s hardware operations, leaving customers waiting for supplies and businesses unable to restock essential items.
She said the company had not received new supplies since the last shipment arrived on June 24, which included cement, logs, farming chemicals and timber products.
“Our trucks are loaded with Goundar, however, since the day Goundar stopped working, before suspending their services, that was the time our stock came.”
She said the company, one of four hardware shops on the island, had customers who had already paid for goods but were still waiting for deliveries.
“We have so many customers and they have already paid for the hardware items while still waiting for their items to arrive.”
She said the disruption had affected not only businesses but also farmers and residents who depended on regular shipping links for goods, fuel and essential supplies.
