Where’s Apisai?
I need him to run an errand.
That’s the usual call by women at the Suva Municipal Market cafeteria when they can’t leave their stalls unattended to tend to other matters.
Apisai Bavadra, 64, has built a relationship on trust simply offering his service as a “runner of errands” for a small fee.
He makes his living helping vendors who pay him enough to make ends meet.
Mr Bavadra is usually at the market cafeteria just adjacent to the bus stand, either peeling cassava or washing up.
He said he helped any stall owner willing to pay him a small fee for work and sometimes he runs errands.
Originally from Kadavu, Mr Bavadra has had years of experience in and around the Suva market and there is always work for him to do at the busy cafeterias that serves working men and women from all walks of life.
About a dozen cafeterias prepare for breakfast, lunch and dinner during week days before close of business at 6pm.
The hectic job of peeling rootcrops, scraping coconut or running errands for bill payments or shopping is where Mr Bavadra comes in.
The former security guard says there’s always work at the market cafeteria for him.
“I was brought up in Kadavu as a child and attended Richmond Primary School before moving to Suva for a better education.
I joined Latter Day Saint Secondary School.
“However I dropped out due to financial difficulties. It was tough to get a proper employment, but I did a lot in casual work to earn money.
“I’m not perfect and had my ups and downs with regrets in life, but I’ve learnt to accept it.
“As I got older I was lucky to meet Takayawa, a businessman of a private security firm, who took me in and trained him with skills to work as a security guard. After four years as a security, I quit my job and joined a fishing vessel that used to sail to Korea.”
Mr Bavadra said he also managed to secure a home to rent in Raiwai and earned enough to fend for himself and start a family.
He later married and has two sons. He said he spent a few good years as a seaman before he decided to leave as old age was catching up on him.
Work was tough physically and he wanted to continue, but preferred light duties instead. Being a seaman, Mr Bavadra frequented the Suva market.
After he left fishing boat he hung around the market cafeteria where he would be offered to cut up vegetables and root crops or run errands.
“While working at the market my wife ran away and left the two boys with me.
They have grown up and are both working, but still staying with me.”
Despite the heartbreak, Mr Bavadra frequents the market for odd jobs and prefers working as a helping hand.
Even though the cafeterias pay lesser than other jobs, he was happy because it wasn’t as tiring.
He could earn between $15 and $20 a day. He said he was happy to retire, but continued working so he didn’t have to bother his two sons for money.
“At least I’m getting my own money by helping those women at the restaurant. It’s part of my life to work here and I enjoy it because they also feed me.
I’ve found comfort in them and them in me, a mutual work relationship. I continue my work every day and continue to strengthen my faith with my God who has been my provider especially through this pandemic.
“I am very grateful to the support of my two sons who understand me completely despite my faults.
I’m still fit to continue a few more years if God permits.”
