Market vendors who traded at the Sawani containment border claimed they made huge losses last Friday.
Kalesi Wati said they were forced to sell produce for as low as $1, so they could earn something and shop before the Suva-Nausori lockdown was enforced.
“I came at four in the morning, so I could earn something and buy groceries for the next four days,” she said.
“The income earned was not much because I had to pay for transport and the amount left to buy groceries was very little.”
Nitin Narayan, a vendor from Korovou, Navuakece, Naitasiri shared similar sentiments.
“We used to sell kumala for $50 but today (Friday) we sold it for only $30 a bag because we just want to go home,” he said.
“Right after the lockdown was announced, there was a demand for vegetables, so we sold it at higher prices, but now we are selling it at half price to just get rid of our stock.
“I earned only $200 from which I have to pay my labourer and whatever is left is for groceries.
“We have to sell it cheaply so that nothing goes bad during the lockdown and gets thrown away.”
