The new Laqere Market in Nasinu has been opened by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to cater for more than 92,043 people of Nasinu.
The Prime Minister says the market is funded by the government at a cost of $7.2 million.
Bainimarama says he knows many of the vendors who will use the new market are accustomed to selling in the informal roadside stalls within Nasinu’s municipal boundary.
He says these can be dangerous places to work.
The Prime Minister says at times, vendors have had to sleep in their own stalls just to keep their goods and produce from being stolen.
He says they are often unsanitary and unsightly.
The Prime Minister says many of the informal roadside vendors within municipal boundaries are operating on road reserves or other municipal properties, or even the property of private individuals and by operating in an illegal manner, they are left without predictability or stability.
He says the government has made this investment for their sake, and the sake of both their physical and financial security.
Meanwhile, Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar says because of COVID-19, Fijians cannot wait around to be offered jobs that will provide a good livelihood for their families so people should create their own opportunities and all the sellers at this market have done just that.
Kumar says Nasinu Town Council has 11,819 official ratepayers with an annual population growth rate of 2%.
This new market has 459 vendor stalls, 12 kiosks, and three mini-restaurants.
A total of 26 CCTV cameras are fitted to create a safe environment.
The market opening hours are from 8am to 6pm in the weekdays and 6am to 6pm in the weekend.
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