Brush cutting business owner Vasenai Cagitabu has heaped praises on South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) for the assistance it has been providing to small business owners such as herself.
Originally from Sote Village, in Verata, Tailevu, the mother of three currently operates her business from Ovea Village in Bau where she has also been selected as the new SPBD Ovea Centre chief.
She said the assistance provided by SPBD had not only helped her meet her family’s needs, but also village obligations.
“I have been with SPBD for four years,” Ms Cagitabu said.
“We are so fortunate to benefit from such an organisation as the SPBD. I always tell the young mothers to come, and we work together to help them improve the livelihoods of their families, to come and be members and take advantage of the benefits, especially those who have children,” she said.
The very first loan she took was $1000 and this helped her start her business, and not only does she run the brush cutting business, but she also sells crabs and fish at the Nausori Market on Saturdays.
She also sells sweets for kids.
“We have a lot of village obligations, but we don’t have any source of income. So, the business, apart from helping upgrade our family’s living standards, also helps us in our village obligations.
“My business is useful to my family, especially my children and my grandchildren, in their education.
“It has helped me lift the living standard of my family. It also helps me by keeping my savings. I used it to buy some roofing iron for our house, buy some goods that normally we can’t get if we don’t work, for example: refrigerator, brush cutter — so it is a big help.”
The 47-year-old said the opening of a SPBD branch in Nausori would further assist members in terms of logistics and expenses.
She said SPBD assisted members in so many ways, not only by providing loan opportunities, but also in savings options and even death benefits.
“They only charge us $2 for keeping our savings with them.
“They also charge us membership fee of $120 and part of that goes into our death benefit. So, to me personally, I see a lot of benefits from it.
“They also give us voucher when we take out loans to help us get goods for the house. We can get it from Courts, Home& Living.”
Ms Cagitabu’s advice to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) owners is to remain honest and diligent in whatever business dealings they undertake.