MARKET vendors in Labasa have lauded the Local Government Ministry’s decision to waive stall fees for the first two stalls with many saying it would help them a lot in these trying times.
Anaseini Vakarurugi said many vendors survived day-to-day from the sale of chillies and other agricultural produce.
She said the fees were a burden to vendors who were struggling to make a living. “Some of us make an average revenue of $40 in these times,” she said.
Another vendor Lavinia Saravaki said the decision was a good one because it would enable them to put food on their tables.
“Vendors are making an average of $40 to $50 and this will help us a lot as some of us have five or more people in our households,” she said.
Local Government Minister Premila Kumar said the waiver, which began last week, would be in place until June 30.
Mrs Kumar stated that in any one week, there were more than 5000 stalls operating in municipal markets across Fiji.
