Market vendor Luisa Reece has expressed her satisfaction with the newly built Nakasi Market, describing it as a significant enhancement for vendors looking to sell their products.
“We are extremely thankful to the government for addressing our request for a market,” stated Ms. Reece. She recalled the difficulties faced by vendors at the previous Nakasi location, where they had to endure rain and sun while trying to make a living.
With the new market, Ms. Reece appreciates that all vendors can now operate under one roof. “Previously, most customers would just drive by, making it tough for us to cater to them,” she explained. “Now, inside the new market, we can relax and wait for customers to arrive.”
The new market not only benefits the vendors but is also convenient for customers. “They can park their cars and easily walk around to purchase fruits and vegetables,” she noted. Ms. Reece highlighted the challenges of the old location where customers often hurried past, preventing them from thoroughly examining the products.
She also mentioned that the town council used to remove vendors from temporary structures alongside the main road. “The new Nakasi market will offer many improvements to support us,” Ms. Reece said, pointing out her village of Nayavutoka in Ra, which is closer to both Korovou Town and Suva than Rakiraki Town.
Traveling from Nayavutoka to Rakiraki requires two bus rides, while it only takes one bus to reach Suva. “That’s why we choose to sell our goods in this area,” she added. Ms. Reece shared that if she doesn’t sell all her produce, she leaves it for fellow vendors to sell on her behalf.
Additionally, the new market provides a secure location for storing their products, eliminating the daily hassle of transporting goods in and out. Ms. Reece sells items such as lemons, pawpaws, pumpkins, and cassava, all sourced from her village. Usually, she collaborates with her daughter to sell their produce and takes pride in being a relative of All Blacks rugby player Sevu Reece, as she is a cousin of Sevu’s father.