Market vendor Luisa Reece expressed her appreciation for the newly opened Nakasi Market, highlighting it as a significant improvement for sellers to showcase their produce.
“We are truly thankful to the government for addressing our request to establish a market,” Ms. Reece noted. She recalled the hardships vendors faced previously, often sitting outside in harsh weather conditions.
According to Ms. Reece, having all vendors under one roof is a welcome change. “Previously, customers would rush by, making it difficult for us to engage with them,” she explained. Now, she finds it much more relaxed, as vendors await customers in the new market.
The new location is hailed as convenient for both vendors and shoppers. “Customers can park their vehicles and leisurely browse the vegetables and root crops,” she stated. She contrasted this with the previous setting along the main road, where buyers had no time to thoroughly examine the goods.
Ms. Reece recounted challenges faced at the former temporary stalls, where town council officials often moved vendors away. She expressed optimism about the enhancements at the Nakasi Market that would support their business.
Coming from Nayavutoka village in Ra, she noted that the new market is more accessible to both Korovou Town and Suva compared to Rakiraki Town. “We only need one bus to Suva, which is why we choose to sell here,” she said, acknowledging the logistical ease.
If her produce remains unsold, Ms. Reece mentioned she has arrangements with fellow vendors to sell on her behalf. She appreciates that the new market provides a secure place to store her goods, eliminating the daily hassle of transporting items. Her offerings include lemons, pawpaws, pumpkins, and cassava sourced from her village.
Ms. Reece often collaborates with her daughter in selling their produce and has a notable connection to the sports world; she is the aunt of All Blacks rugby union player Sevu Reece, being a cousin of Sevu’s father.