What started 26 years ago as a school holiday job remains a source of livelihood for Viana Tamani.
The 40-year-old from Natadradave in Tailevu says her work as a food vendor was never easy but perseverance has allowed her to pull through.
“During the early days, there was no electricity and water. I used kerosene and benzene lamps at night and had to cart water in a container from home,” Viana reminisced.
“It all started in 1994 while I was in Form 4. I was a student at Natabua High School so, during my school breaks, my dad asked me to look after our family canteen, which operated out of a caravan from the jetty,” she said.
From selling groceries back in the 1990s, Viana moved to selling food full time in 2010, after her dad passed away.
She has served thousands of passengers who commute daily from Natovi to Ovalau and Nabouwalu in Bua.
“I’m glad to have brought relief and satisfaction to hungry and thirsty passengers who come to the Natovi Jetty daily before transiting to other ports over the past 26 years.”
“It has been a long journey but I’ve continued with the same spirit of perseverance, honesty and diligence with which I founded the business.”
Over the past two decades, Viana has sold to passengers of the inter-island ships Jubilee, Ovalau, and Princes Ashika, Spirit of Harmony, Love and Altruism, O’hana, Queen Melbourne, MV Westerland and St Mary.
In the past few years, the Natovi Jetty has experienced heavy traffic because of an increase in the number of boat companies that operate out of Natovi.
That has made Natovi an important business spot in Tailevu North and a source of livelihood and financial empowerment for many rural women.
“In the mid-1990s, I was the only one around. Now, many women operate their small food vending businesses from Natovi Jetty, all with the aim of putting food on the table, sending children to school and taking care of family expenses,” Viana said.
“Also, back in the early days we only sold during the day. Now we operate day and night, thanks to the many inter-island vessels that now berth daily in Natovi.” Among other reasons, the mother of one loves her job because she gets to be her own boss.
“I love my job because it has been a source of livelihood for me and my family for many years. It has also allowed me to meet many people, some of whom have become my close friends.”
“But perhaps one of the best positives is I am my own boss. I wake up when I want to and take a day off when I want to.”
Viana buys fish from local fishermen at $20 to $25 a string and then cooks hot meals and food parcels that sell from $5 a serve.
