$100 fines threaten to shut down Labasa fish stalls, vendors warn

A dispute over parking at the Labasa fish market has left vendors caught between police fines and local council promises.

While police say the parking is illegal and dangerous, vendors argue the crackdown is destroying their livelihoods.

The dispute centres on a strip of land near the Labasa fish market.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wame Bautolu confirmed that the area is legally owned by the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) and was never officially designated for vending.

According to Sgt Bautolu, the fines being issued are lawful under the Land Transport Act and the Land Transport (Traffic) Regulations 2000.

The 18‑Metre Rule: Under Regulation 20(1)(g)(ii), any vehicle parked within 18 metres of a railway crossing is committing an offence.

Police state that the market's current parking area falls within this restricted zone.

Furthermore, police claim the area has been misused by private vehicles operating as illegal taxis, prompting stricter enforcement.

He added that vehicles parked at the Labasa fish market were within close proximity to the railway crossing.

Vendors: “We are losing customers”

On the other side of the yellow line, vendors are feeling the financial squeeze.

Jiten Kumar, a vendor, described the situation as “impractical,” noting that vendors pay an $18.05 stall fee yet are told by officers to “carry the fish” from distant parking spots to avoid fines.

“I have seen it myself, and many other fish vendors have also observed the same issue,” he said.

Mr Kumar said fish cannot be carried easily and that vendors need parking space to unload supplies.

“Our suppliers and customers park here and get fined for illegal parking. That creates fear and we end up losing customers,” he said.

He said police should penalise only illegal private‑hire drivers, not vendors, suppliers or customers using what they believe is a designated area.

Vendor Mereliki Bulitavu said the financial burden on customers simply doesn’t make sense.

She said a customer spending $35 on fish ends up paying $135 after receiving a $100 parking ticket. This is driving shoppers away.

“Why would they come back?” Ms Bulitavu asked, noting that the market was originally relocated to this site specifically to improve loading and unloading access.

“This place was chosen so it would be easier for us to load and unload fish,” she said.

Ms Bulitavu said customers were discouraged when fined. She added that vendors also incur high daily costs for ice.

“One bag of ice costs about $20, and we need several bags each day. If customers keep getting fined, we will lose them,” she said.

Ms Bulitavu said vendors might stop operating at the site if the issue is not resolved.

Conflicting authorities

Adding to the confusion is a clear lack of consensus between local agencies.

Labasa Town Council administrator Samuela Ligairi acknowledged the area had been designated for vendors and noted that a meeting with traffic police was held last year to address the same concerns.

FSC and Police maintain the land is FSC property and say signs indicating ownership were previously removed by vendors.

The Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Industries was expected to comment yesterday; however, a scheduled media conference organised by president Vinesh Dayal was cancelled without explanation, leaving questions about the market’s future unanswered.

As it stands, vendors warn that if the “fear” of $100 fines continues to drive customers away, they may be forced to shut down their stalls for good.