Minister of Local Government Premila Kumar has announced that from tomorrow until 30th June, Municipal Market stall holders will not pay stall fees for their first two stalls.
Kumar says if a person has more than two stalls, he or she will receive a stall fee waiver for the first two stalls and then pay the appropriate fee for each subsequent stall.
The Minister says if they have more than two stalls but cannot pay the fees for the rest of the stalls, they encourage vendors to surrender the stalls to reduce the operating costs.
She adds that other vendors will be able to apply for these stalls and this will allow more Fijians to have the opportunity to sell their produce and make an income from Municipal markets across Fiji.
She says this measure has been undertaken to respond to the ongoing struggle of maintaining family livelihoods in these uncertain times.
Kumar stated that in any one week, there are more than 5,000 stalls operated in Municipal Markets across Fiji and this waiver will make a positive impact to the lives of many Fijians and their families.
She says Suva’s main market alone has 677 stalls; Lautoka 963, Labasa 865 and Nausori can have up to748 stalls operating on a weekend and stall fees across the country range from 75 cents /day for vegetables to $3.85/ day for grog stall.
Kumar further says they will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Municipal Market operations adding it has already ensured the safety of all citizens by taking necessary steps to change market practice during this time
Kumar also added that it is imperative that market stall holders and customers observe physical distancing while queuing and shopping.
She says stalls are spaced further apart; public awareness announcements are regularly made over sound systems; marked lines on the ground spread customers and constant monitoring is done to ensure overcrowding does not occur.
Kumar says Councils have now decentralised markets across their neighbourhoods and small markets are now located at strategic neighbourhood locations to prevent overcrowding by consumers.
She adds people are able to shop at a market closer to home and reduce unnecessary movement into central places.
Kumar says these are all practical and positive initiatives which will make a big difference to our common fight against COVID-19.
