From unemployment to entrepreneur: The vendor who starts work while Suva sleeps
By 2am, Mr Waqa is preparing juice, roti parcels and Indian snacks such as bhuja for the steady stream of passengers who rely on his small business each morning.
Friday 14 August 2026 | 08:30
Ratu Silivenusi Waqa at his juice stall at the Suva Bus Stand, where he has been serving early morning commuters for more than a decade.
While much of Suva is still asleep, 51-year-old Ratu Silivenusi Waqa is already at work, setting up his stall outside the Suva Bus Station long before the first commuters arrive.
By 3am, Mr Waqa is preparing juice, roti parcels and Indian snacks such as bhuja for the steady stream of passengers who rely on his small business each morning.
For more than a decade, the bus station has been his workplace after he turned to self-employment when casual construction work became scarce.
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Originally from the Solomon Islands and raised on Bau Island in Tailevu, Mr Waqa said his business began with a simple dream.
While unemployed, he would often sit at the bus stand and watch vendors serve customers, hoping one day he would have a stall of his own.
"Now I'm on that table," Mr Waqa said.
What started as a juice business has gradually expanded into a small food stall selling roti parcels and bhuja alongside cold drinks.
His working day begins before dawn and continues until midday, serving commuters and passers-by.
Like many small vendors, his income depends heavily on the weather.
"When it's raining, it's difficult. Wet weather means fewer customers, which affects my sales and income," he said.
On sunny days, business is much better as more people stop to buy from his stall.
Despite the uncertainty that comes with running a small business, Mr Waqa continues to rise before dawn every day, determined to earn a living while providing an early morning service to Suva's commuters.
