Suva United Market Vendors Association President Sofia Talei is calling on the Fiji Police Force and the Suva City Council to provide security as some street kids have been targeting vendors while buying their produce at the Suva MPI car park opposite the Suva Bus Stand at 3am.
Talei says most of their members are women and afraid of carrying a lot of cash in the early morning because they fear getting robbed and not have money to buy their produce and sell it during the day.
Talei says another thing they have noticed is that most of their customers are getting their produce elsewhere because they fear they will get pick-pocketed or robbed while shopping at the market during the weekend.
She says they have been raising their concerns with the Suva City Council and the Police Force regarding fewer manpower.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Divisional Police Commander Central Farasiko Matawalu says Police are patrolling the market other areas highlighted by Talei throughout the day and night, and when they find young people loitering for no reasons they are asked to clear the area.
Matawalu says this is an ongoing exercise and they are working with other stakeholders in addressing the issue of young people loitering in town.
