Plans are underway for a new market and bus terminal in Seaqaqa, according to Samuela Ligairi, the special administrator of the Labasa Town Council. Ligairi has seen the architectural drawings for the proposed projects, which are expected to provide significant benefits to the local community. However, he has withheld further details.
Vendor Losalini Raua highlighted a longstanding demand for a new market as they enter the new financial year. She expressed concerns that the current market has not undergone any renovations over the years, despite repeated requests to previous governments. Raua noted that the existing trading facility is in a state of disrepair and inadequately equipped to cope with even minor weather changes.
A key issue is the leaking roofs, which allow rainwater to enter during heavy downpours, damaging merchandise and hindering business operations. Currently, several sections of the market have roofs that are patched with tarpaulins in a temporary effort to keep the rain out, while some roofs are completely missing.