Businesses in several towns within the western division, including Ba and Rakiraki, have faced disruptions due to adverse weather conditions. The flooding led to significant challenges, forcing many shops to close as water levels rose and seeped into their premises.
Moshin Khan, the Chair of the Ba Town Council’s Special Administration, stated that the decision to close Ba town was aimed at safeguarding local businesses. In an effort to manage the situation, Khan and his team collaborated with the Ba Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Fiji National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDMO), Fiji Police, and the National Fire Authority (NFA).
Ba Main Street remained open for part of the day on Friday but began to close around 1 p.m. due to worsening conditions. The Market Arcade reported water ingress starting early at 7 a.m. Meanwhile, in Tavua, the MaxVal-U supermarket was forced to shut down as a precaution, though Tavua town itself remained open for business. Flooding impacted areas near the Shop N Shop supermarket due to river overflow. Rakiraki town experienced closures as water levels rose from the creek, further affecting local commerce.
In contrast, Nadi and the Nadroga/Navosa area seemed to fare better, with Nadi Town Council’s chief executive officer Muni Reddy reporting that businesses were actively engaging in clean-up efforts, suggesting a return to normalcy. Suresh Naidu, the chairman of the Nadroga Navosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, echoed this sentiment, stating that business operations continued smoothly in the rugby town.
This situation underscores the resilience of local business communities, as they band together to recover from the impacts of natural disasters. As clean-up efforts begin and collaborations among various organizations continue, there is hope that these towns will swiftly bounce back, showcasing their strength and unity in challenging times.
Leave a comment