The Honourable Prime Minister;
“Momo na Tui Nadi
Momo na Tui Nawaka
Momo Levu na Tui Sabeto
Marama na Taukei Naua
Momo na Taukei Navo”
Chair of the Special Administrators for Nadi and Sigatoka Ms Debra Sadranu;
Special Administrators;
H.E. The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr. John Feakes;
United Nations Women Representative Ms Sandra Bernklau and her team;
Distinguished Guests,
Market Vendors,
Namaka residents, and friends,
Bula Vinaka, Namaste and a very good afternoon to you all.
I welcome you to yet another celebration where this government is fulfilling its promises by bringing services closer to its people.
Construction work for this new market began in September 2017 and the end result is a modern, accessible, fit-for-purpose market. Open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm except on Sunday where the market closes at 2pm.
My Ministry’s strategy is to ensure that Municipal Markets incorporate increased support for micro and small businesses particularly those run by women, young people and people with disabilities.
We all know Municipal Markets are an important community and business facility and across Fiji the government is building a strong economic base for our people and for our country.
Government has seen the value in investing in infrastructure to create the best enabling environment and opportunities for doing business.
As part of the Fijian Government’s commitment to modernising Municipal Market infrastructure, the Government and the Municipal Councils have invested in the expansion and redevelopment of Municipal Markets around the country. The Nausori, Namaka, Laqere, Savusavu and Rakiraki Municipal Markets redevelopment project, have seen a total investment close to $30million by the Government and the Municipal Councils.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Municipal markets can no longer operate the way it did 40 years ago. The dynamics have changed. We have more than 50% women market vendors operating their micro business.
We need to ensure that markets are safe, inclusive, and promote gender equality.
Across Fiji we are pleased to be working with partners such as UN Women. Their impressive Markets for Change program funded by the Australian Government is bringing in changes needed to improve the market facility but also the operation of markets.
Today you will get to tour the women’s accommodation and resource center that they have supported in the new Namaka Market.
We also acknowledge UN Womens assistance in developing accommodation centres for women in Ba, Labasa, Sigatoka and Suva markets.
I am very pleased that UN Women will also assist my Ministry in reviewing the existing Market by – laws which are outdated. It is imperative to modernize these laws to make it fair, practical and consistent across all municipal Councils.
We currently have different Market by-laws for different municipalities. The objective now is to have one regulation for all the Municipal Councils, that will address issues such as allocation of stalls; opening hours; vendor responsibility, dispute settlement to name a few.
It is disappointing to see that multi-million-dollar markets close on Sundays and people sell from footpaths, shop verandahs and open spaces outside the market. The question is how can we improve the design of the markets so that markets remain open 7 days a week.
We also have cases where individuals own more than 20 stalls in markets, denying others who need them most.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through regulation we can bring about change needed in the operation of our markets.
This impressive new Namaka Market is a great example of the direction my ministry is taking for Municipal Markets across Fiji.
For your information, Namaka Market is the first market in Fiji that has a Town Council Sub-Office. Located on the second floor, it is now ready to assist Nadi residents and businesses to pay their rates, lodge their complaints, and receive their business licenses.
As part of the reform, the Councils under Special Administrators are decentralizing Councils services and taking it closer to our people.
There are other aspects of the market that I wish to highlight to all of you gathered here today. This market has been built with great thought and care for its users.
It has:
- plentiful parking for customers, and a designated bus bay for tourist buses.
- Also loading and unloading area for vendors; and a fully accessible access to people of all physical abilities.
Tour operators have indicated to me just how happy they are to have a genuine Fijian experience ready, waiting, and free of charge, for their customers to access.
My heartiest congratulations to all who have been involved with the construction, including the hardworking and determined A/CEO and team at Nadi Town Council, the vendors, community, and construction workers. This is an impressive building, and you are to be commended for it.
I wish to conclude by offering my gratitude to the Chair of Special Administrators, Ms Debra Sadranu, and her team of Special Administrators. They have applied their business mindset, good sense and creative thinking to benefit all the residents and the visitors to Nadi Town.
Vinaka Vakalevu and do enjoy this wonderful facility!