EVERY morning, the doors of the Meridian Store open to welcome customers looking for groceries, hardware, clothing or simply a friendly chat.
For many people, it is just another business that has stood the test of time.
But for the chiefly household of Cakaudrove, the Meridian Store is much more than that.
It is a neighbour, a trusted friend.
And after nearly a century, it has become part of the history of Wairiki.
That was the message shared by President and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu during the celebration of the store’s 100 years of service.
His speech was not about profits or business success.
Instead, it was about people.
It was about a relationship that began when a young businessman from Gujarat, India, chose to build a life in Taveuni.
“Many years ago, the head of the family, Dayaram Fakir, made the courageous decision to leave Gujarat and establish his business here in Wairiki,” he said.
Ratu Naiqama said it was not an easy decision as at that time, Wairiki was very different from what it is today.
There were no busy tourist resorts and very little modern development.
People depended on copra, farming and shipping.
Despite the challenges, Dayaram Fakir decided to stay.
He said the changed not only the future of the family, but also the future of the community.
As the years passed, the business grew alongside the people of Wairiki.
Families came to know each other; children grew up together.
Neighbours became lifelong friends.
He said his own relationship with the Dayaram family was not one built on official ceremonies.
It began through everyday life.
“I came to know the family by their first names.
“Through this, I came to appreciate what the Meridian Store has meant to this community.”
Those friendships, he said, became stronger with each generation.
The relationship also extended beyond friendship.
He said members of his own mataqali eventually became connected to the Dayaram family through marriage.
“Members of my own Mataqali have also become part of this family through marriage.”
It was a simple statement, but one that showed just how closely the two families had become connected over the years.
The Meridian Store also became part of everyday village life.
The church across the road was one of its closest neighbours.
He laughed as he recalled how the church and the store occasionally argued over their shared water supply.
It was the kind of disagreement only close neighbours could have.
He also remembered the store as a place where people came not only to shop but to meet.
“This has always been a place where visitors were welcomed with warm smiles, where stories were shared across the counter and where many children bought their very first sweets.”
For older generations in Taveuni, those memories remain alive.
Many remember buying rice, flour, kerosene, soap and matches from the store.
Others remember waiting for ships to arrive with supplies before roads connected much of the island.
He described the business as a true general merchant.
“It sold rice, dhal, flour, kerosene, matches, soap, clothing and even hardware items.”
More importantly, he said, it was always there.
When businesses came and went, Meridian remained.
When Taveuni changed, Meridian changed with it.
“The Meridian Store has remained a constant presence in Taveuni. It has become part of the story of this community.”
He said the Dayaram family may have come from India, but today their roots are firmly planted in Wairiki.
“The Fakir family has shown that part of their identity is rooted here in Wairiki.
“Wherever they travel, the mention of Wairiki and the people they grew up with reminds them of who they are.”
For Ratu Naiqama, that is what belonging means.
It is not simply about where someone was born.
It is about where they build relationships.
Where they serve others.
Where they become part of the community.
He thanked the Dayaram family for remaining committed to the people of Taveuni for almost a century.
“Thank you for your vision.
“To every staff member and every family member who has kept this business alive, thank you for your dedication and service to the community.”
He also thanked the customers whose loyalty had helped the business reach its centenary.
“It is trust, adaptability, service and community spirit that will ensure the Meridian Store continues to prosper for generations to come.”
Looking around the celebration, those words were easy to understand.
Chiefs, business leaders, villagers, former employees and customers all gathered under one roof.
They were there not only to celebrate a business.
They were there to celebrate a relationship.
A relationship that began with a small shop.
A relationship that grew through respect.
And a relationship that has lasted almost 100 years.
For many businesses, success is measured by the number of branches they open or the profits they make.
For the Meridian Store, another measure of success was on display.
After a century in Wairiki, one of Fiji’s highest chiefs stood before the community and spoke of the Dayaram family not as outsiders or businessmen.
The spoke of them as neighbours, friends and part of the community’s own story.
In a country celebrated for its different cultures, that may be the Meridian Store’s greatest achievement.
It did more than build a successful business.
It built trust and that trust became a friendship that has stood the test of time.
