((NARRATOR))
When Suva Market opens in Fiji, you’ll find vendors putting the finishing touches on their booths. But unlike most of the commercial district, more than two thirds of the merchants here – are women.
((Eva Marie Dongen, Suva Market Vendor))
We are very important to the community. When they come around, we have everything they want in this place.
((NARRATOR))
Rinieta Tatakyau has been selling flowers for 18 years.
((Rinieta Taktakyao, Suva Market Vendor))
I'm just taking orders. Like, you'll see, I have lots and lots of flowers here. Like the bunches of flowers. I just sell bunches because my customers, they rushing to the market. They want this. They are pointing to the flowers and I have to set it up for them.
((NARRATOR))
Sylvia Dayal has run a grocery and spice shop with her husband for nearly 20 years. She says she’s often concerned about safety for herself and other female vendors.
((Sylvia Dayal, Dayal Spices and Kava limited))
We have to be on our toes. The staff are there, but we have to look around for anybody like, you know, suspicious trying to…. People do come with a mind to at least, you know, they're looking for opportunities to grab something.
((NARRATOR))
In 2020, Fiji became the first Pacific Island Country to create a national action plan to prevent violence against women and girls.The Suva City Council has added eight security guards and provides a low-cost overnight hotel for female vendors who travel dozens of kilometers from the provinces the night before – to arrive for an early market start. They used to sleep on the streets.
((David Wanga, Suva City Council))
their security is also very important for us. you know, most of these, market vendors, ranges, most of them, in the range from 40 plus and some in the 50s, and some are reaching, 60s. So we need to ensure that they feel comfortable by being safe
((NARRATOR))
Sylvia Dayal says they still need more guards to protect women from theft and harassment.
((Sylvia Dayal, Dayal Spices and Kava limited))
So it's not safe because sometimes the pickpockets, they do move around. They look for chances to, you know, do. So yeah, I think there's not no security, but basically it is a problem. Yes.
((NARRATOR))
Elizabeth Verity sells supplies for basket-making. She says she appreciates the steps the government has taken so far to improve the market, but women need more – to continue to grow their businesses.
((Elizabeth Verity, Market Vendor))
First, they give them awareness trainings and all those things on how to make savings and all those things. And then they can, help them with some, grants or little loans, you know, that will definitely help them as, like I said, they are mostly breadwinners of their families.
((NARRATOR))
The improvements are still ongoing. In July of 2024, the United Nations Development Program teamed up with ANZ bank to launch an effort to help women vendors – save and grow their earnings. Jessica Stone, VOA News.
