Construction on bigger Rakiraki market begins

Construction of a new and bigger municipal market has started in Rakiraki with the ground-breaking ceremony today.

Speaking during the ceremony in Rakiraki, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the project is just one part of the government’s commitment to build the economy of this country from the ground up by providing opportunity for small businesses, for people with ambition and drive who only need a chance.

Bainimarama says this is just a small part of government’s commitment to the people of Ra, who suffered so much in Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He says the market is one ray of the morning light.

Bainimarama says when the first phase of the market is finished, it will be home to 307 vendor stalls, more than double the 127 stalls in the market today.

It will also have an office for the market manager and modern bathroom facilities for the vendors and customers alike.

The first floor will have an Open Craft Centre and an accommodation centre for women market vendors.

Bainimarama says the accommodation centre is a safe place for rural women to stay overnight when they travel long distances to sell their products.

The first phase of the Rakiraki market represents an investment of $5.84 million.

The government is contributing $2.64 million, and the Australian Government and UN Women are contributing the balance.

This is the biggest infrastructure investment by UN Women Fiji so far.

The project is expected to be completed over a period of twelve months.

Bainimarama says this is an investment not just in a market, but in the future of Rakiraki.

He says it will significantly boost growth opportunities and promote the growth of small and medium sized business.

The Prime Minister says we are still rebuilding after Winston.

He says it will take time, and he would like to move faster, but the government is making steady progress.

Bainimarama says the government will not just rebuild, it will build with the knowledge that the standards we used in the past will not serve us in the future.

He says everything we build has to withstand more severe weather conditions than we had once assumed we would face.