Waisea Qaliyalewa of Waitolu Village in Naitasiri is helping farmers transport their crops to Sawani, Nausori and Suva at a very reasonable cost because he feels sorry for the people of his province in these difficult times.
The 44-year-old drives his own car to cater for the highlanders because there is a shortage of public transport in Naitasiri.
“I’m trying all my best to meet the needs of the people in my province because most of them are not getting what they used to get when they sell their crops at the Suva market.
“Every day I hear complaints from my passengers because of the lockdown which is really stopping them from what they can achieve.
“Now, since the border is open, they still struggle to earn a living.
“Sometimes my passengers give whatever they can to me because that’s the reality of this pandemic and I can’t force them to give more,” he said.
“Some of them ask if I can drop them at their place and they will pay me later once they get some money and that is the part of life that really touches my heart as I think of their children and parents.
“I never turn down what they want but as a Christian, a father and a Fijian, I should be ready to accept the consequences of helping them because sometimes I don’t have enough to take back home but I’m satisfied with the help I can provide.”
Mr Qaliyalewa is a farmer by profession and he plants ginger, dalo and cassava.
During weekends he sometimes helps in the farm.
The former Naqali District School student said during the lockdown he was looking after seven families in his village from the money he earned while driving at the Sawani containment border.
“Most of those families were not working and I can’t eat and close the door of my house when they are suffering.
“I’ve got my own children and grandchildren to feed but during this pandemic I really learnt a lesson that we should love and share the blessings we receives each day.
“I have to help them because they are my relatives and my neighbours.
“This is not because I earned enough money from driving, it is because I love and feel for them.”
