COVID-19: Kumar – No reason to reduce stall fees

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Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar. Picture: SUPPLIED/FIJI GOVT/FT FILE

Fiji’s Local Government Minister Premila Kumar says she does not see any reason for supporting market vendors’ requests for stall fees to be reduced.

She said there was no shortage of vegetables and customers were in need of a regular supply of food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that there is no shortage of food and vegetables, so I don’t see any reason why I should be reducing the stall fees,” she said.

However, Mrs Kumar said they would not be charging stall fees to vendors who had permanent stalls, but could not make it to the market.

“The situation is this, everybody buys foods and vegetables and we all go and buy food from the supermarkets, we buy our medication from the pharmacies, we carry our mobile phones and the internet.

“I have not come across a situation where the vendors are not able to sell.

“A good evidence is last weekend where the markets were chock-a-block and when you visit the market, the fresh produce is there.

“But we will not be charging stall fees to those vendors (who have a permanent stall in the market) who cannot make it to the market because of the lockdown.”

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