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A view of vendors selling their produce at Lautoka market. Picture: BALJEET SINGH/FT FILE
Relief for market vendors
Some relief at last for market vendors.Local Government Minister Premila Kumar says vendors who are unable to sell their produce due to the COVID-19 lockdown or for safety reasons decide to close their stalls, will not be charged for the days they are not at the market.
Vendors urged not to panic
Local Government Minister Premila Kumar has called on municipal market vendors not to panic and stockpile produce.
HealthPlus Diagnostic Centre managing director Keshvi Sukul during the MOU signing. Picture: SUPPLIED
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Opposition member Pio Tikoduadua is calling on the government to stop the blame game. Tikoduadua has questioned government on why they are pretending they weren’t aware of drafting of the police bill. He said everybody in Fiji knows that nothing happens in the government unless the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama or Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says so. “Last week the Local Government Minister Premila Kumar blamed an un-named “consultant” for the release of municipal market regulations imposing huge fees on market vendors,” he said “Kumar said the regulations were not aligned with the government’s vision. Now, the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is saying that the Police Bill does not reflect the views of the government and will be withdrawn.
Litia Cava
Former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU/FILE
Former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says Local Government Minister Premila Kumar is now “resorting to face-saving tactics”.
He said market vendors were asked to make submissions on the proposed Local Government (Municipal Market Regulations).
“It is obvious that the Minister is now resorting to face-saving tactics,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“There is no way our market vendors would be able to meet such exorbitant fees.”
Mr Chaudhry said the Minister must explain how the draft was “leaked” to the Market Vendors Association in the various municipalities.