Sheik Munawar Ali, who lost 13 years of his investment to a fire on Taveuni Island this year, has been inspiration to rebuild his business from scratch.

The 49-year-old businessman said he would never forget the early hours of July 25 when a suspected arson took place at his shop, Ali’s Fashion, located at Naqara.

He said the world came to an end for him when he saw the items inside the building amounting to $150,000 razed to the ground.

“Thanks to the owner of Garden Island Rootcrop Company, a Chinese businessman, he offered a space in his property where I could continue my business,” said Mr Ali who is originally from Soasoa, Labasa.

“Next week I will begin rebuilding the shop at the original site.”

The third youngest of seven siblings said rebuilding a business would be challenging, especially during this coronavirus pandemic, but he would never give up.

“I will use whatever savings I have and by God’s grace will move forward to complete this project even if it takes more than six months or a year,” he said.

“No matter what it takes I will rise up to contribute to Taveuni’s economy.”

About Ali

After dropping out from Year 11 at Bulileka Sanatan College in Labasa because of financial constraints, he sold peanut and bean at Labasa market.

He also worked as a sugarcane labourer.

Then he moved to Taveuni to work as a carrier driver and occasionally sold water bottles along the Taveuni corridor.

In 2008, the father of three children started his business Ali’s Fashion.

He is popularly known for his soccer achievement as the coach of Taveuni team in the Vanua Levu Muslim Inter-District Championship for more than 10 years.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa 

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