More than 1000 temporary vendors flocked to the Suva City Council Municipal Market on Saturday making it the biggest market day for the year thus far.

This added to the 400 permanent vendors who have established spots inside the market.

The market car park from Usher Street all the way into Stinson Parade had to be utilised for vendors.

Suva City Council and vendors worked together to ensure everyone was accommodated. Vendors helped in taking temperatures and checking entry requirements for customers.

According to the Suva City Council, the market stall fee waiver had prompted producers from villages as far as Nadroga and Ra to converge to the Suva Market.

The council said the number of vendors and the foot traffic had been the highest for the year.

Tablets provided by the Ministry of Communications allowed the council to verify vaccination details of the temporary vendors since only those vaccinated were allowed to sell.

Maca Bari of Ra said this was the first time this year she had made the trip to Suva.

“I hope to be able to sell my crops and do some shopping from the city,” she said.

Rusiate Tabaiwalu said he had made regular trips every weekend from his village in Naitasiri, but this was the busiest he had seen the market.

“There was little confusion over spots because new vendors had come. I think the council did well to ensure everyone was accommodated,” he said.

According to the council, preparation for this week has already started as indication that a similar crowd is to be expected this weekend with Fiji Day celebrations planned in most homes

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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