Market vendors are concerned with the delay in the upgrading work of the Labasa municipal market.

Julia Bogiva, 52, a market vendor of 18 years, said they were told the work would take only four months.

“By the look of things, the construction would probably finish next year,” Mrs Bogiva said.

“This worries me because the festive season is approaching, and the market is expected to be jam-packed the whole day and we will suffer from lack of space.

“Even now we’re suffering during wet weather because the temporary market shed cannot cover us all,” she said.

“It would have been better if they started construction next year just so we can go through the festive season without the congested space.”

She said they were struggling even to pay their table fees and the relocation of the bus stand was also affecting them.

“Before when the bus stand was near the market, the market was always full and we had a lot of sales,” she said.

“But now the delay of the developments has affected business thus making life harder for us.”

Meanwhile Labasa/Savusavu special administrator, Vijay Chand, has pleaded with vendors to be more patient as the new market extension meant more space and a good business environment.

Work on the market’s extension is expected to be completed by March next year.

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