Market vendors, who constructed illegal stalls outside the Superfresh Supermarket at Mead Road in Suva, will not move out as directed by the authorities

Most of them believe they have all the rights to be there.

Vendors have occupied the spot for seven years now and some made shanty looking stalls on the state’s road reserve along the supermarket car park.

Yaqona seller Semesa Sauta has just constructed a permanent structure which has cost him more than $1000.

“When I started building this, no one came to tell me it is illegal. I am not robbing anyone but making a living,” he said.

“It will be difficult for Suva City Council to move us.”

Anita Lata has been selling vegetables from Mead Road for the past five years and she for one does not want to move.

She claimed a cabinet minister had told her to move there.

“Where do they want us to go? This is the way I make money for my family,” she claimed.

The construction of stalls is illegal and built on the road reserve where such activity is prohibited.

The supermarket after various failed attempts to get rid of the vendors constructed a wall. That same wall is now the back portion of many stalls.

In his address to special administrator teams last month the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said such stalls were illegal, unsafe and unhygienic.

Suva and Lami special administrator chair Isikeli Tikoduadua said the SCC would look for a location to build proper markets and relocate vendors.

No time frame has been given as to when this will take place.

Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar has highlighted that the stalls along Mead Road were too close to the main road.

Edited by Percy Kean

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