His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia,
Her Excellency, Ms Linda Hurley,
His Excellency, John Feakes, Australian High Commissioner,
Her Excellency, Charlotte Darlow, New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji,
Komai Nausori, Ratu Lepani Tagicakibau,
Ms. Sandra Bernklau, Representative for the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office,
Mr. Shaheen Ali, Acting Permanent Secretary of Local Government,
Representatives from New Zealand and Canadian Governments,
Representatives of the Nausori Women Market Vendors Association,
Chief Executive Officer and Team of Special Administrators, Nasinu Town Council,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today is a very special day for all of us here. It’s a special day for the Fijian, and our partner Governments – Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Most importantly – it’s a special day for the women of Nausori Market.
And the beauty of today is witnessing what we’re capable of achieving through partnership – partnerships founded on shared commitments.
We have the United Nations Development Programme, the UN Women and the Women Vendors themselves, all of whom have been instrumental in the Markets for Change project.
I’m especially pleased to be a part of – and to open – something that I know will make a difference to the lives of Fijian women.
What we see today is a model example of what strong, sustainable partnership can achieve. And what better way than to have the H.E., the Hon. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia here with us.
I know that the Hon. Premila Kumar – who has always been a strong advocate of women empowerment – would have been thrilled to be here with you as well.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Market development remains a top priority of the Ministry of Local Government’s plans to expand our infrastructure in all thirteen Municipal Councils.
Earlier in March, we broke ground in Levuka. When the Levuka market does open, Fiji will have market infrastructure in each one of our towns and cities. This is part of the Fijian Government’s commitment in creating safe and secure facilities – while empowering women and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Every day, around the world, women are subject to barriers. Barriers that hold them back from equal economic opportunities. But not having a space to sell or a place to rest and prepare, should not be one of them — especially not if we can help it.
We have 1,179 vendors in the Nausori Market – of which 40 percent (443) are women. More than half (53%) of these women are from the interior of rural areas of Fiji.
The women who’re with us today, come from Tailevu, Rewa and Naitasiri. Some even come from as far as Rakiraki and Ba. So by providing accommodation, these women don’t have to expend on transportation nor do they have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning only to spend their nights along the market corridor, bus stands or streets, waiting for the market to open the next day.
And that’s why the Markets for Change project is so crucial. Because we’re providing our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, a decent working environment – where they’ll have their own kitchen, cleaner restrooms, laundry facilities and a sleeping area with proper beds.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The total project investment towards the Centre is FJ$629,380. An investment that will cater for 80 women vendors at any one time.
The accommodation will have two floors. On the First Floor, there is a restroom area with special needs ensuite, shower facility, large dining area and two storage rooms. It will also host a large sleeping area of 142sqm which can also be used for training, workshops and consultations.
This will assist the Council to generate additional income, which will eventually help subsidize the rate charged to the vendors and can be used for maintenance of the facility. So in many ways, this grants vendors more than a safe nights’ sleep because you have at your disposal, a multi-purpose facility.
On the Ground Floor, we have an open area to host vendors who were otherwise selling outside or from under temporary tents. It will also have three kiosks to help generate additional income, and an area dedicated to a vertical lift – creating flexibility to persons with reduced mobility.
Following today, we have Women Accommodation Centers in almost all our major towns and cities including Suva, Sigatoka, Nadi, Namaka, Ba, Rakirakit and Labasa.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Excellencies,
On behalf of the Fijian Government, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our Government partners, the Markets for Change and the UN family. I know I don’t have to assure you of the positive impact you continue to create for the women of Fiji. So vinaka vakalevu.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Nausori market is actually considered as the best market in the country. From serving the best seafood and food parcels, to the freshest fruits and vegetables. Early Saturday mornings, the Nausori market is quite the sight. We even have people travelling all the way from Lami Town during Avocado season.
So to the market vendors – I want to remind you that you have the potential to very well become an experience. Don’t limit yourself to being perceived as a vendor alone. When you continue to work together to upkeep this market and maintain consistent, quality supply, I am confident the Nausori Market will become a stronger anchor attraction for the greater Nausori.
Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank You.