Seaside Market sales slow, vendors ask authorities to repair and reopen main market

January 14, 2025 10:08 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Nicholas Mwai.

The temporary closure of the main market in town due to structural cracks has left vendors struggling with the economic fallout. With the market in town deemed unsafe, vendors have been relocated to the Seaside Market, where sales have been slow.

Ruth Yada, a long-time vendor at the main market, expressed her frustration with the current situation, saying, “With most of us selling here in the Seaside Market as vendors of the main market in town, we really want to go back and sell in town. The outcome here is not good—sales are slow, and our products often go unsold.”

The difficulties faced by vendors at the Seaside Market are multi-faceted. Ms Yada described how, by afternoon, unsold goods such as island cabbage are given away for free, as they cannot be sold the following day.

“You know, some of us are making a living out of this,” she explained. “We help to buy food for our children and grandchildren. Many of our daughters and sons have lost their jobs, and it’s hard to find another one. Here, sometimes 50% of our goods don’t sell. Compared to the main market in town, sales were much better.”

The logistical challenges of the Seaside Market further exacerbate the issue. According to Yada, the location deters customers from visiting.

“Prices here in the seaside market are still the same—VT200 for island cabbage—but it’s far from most residential areas. People don’t want to spend money on bus fares just to come here and then find transport back. It’s much better for the authorities to address this,” she said.

Despite their struggles, vendors still have to pay for table fees at the seaside market, further compounding their losses. Yada and her fellow vendors have repeatedly appealed to authorities to expedite repairs to the main market. “We need to relocate. We want to go back and sell in town,” she pleaded, reflecting the sentiments of many vendors who depend on the bustling foot traffic of the town market to sustain their livelihoods.

The delay in reopening the main market has turned into a crisis for vendors who rely on daily sales to support their families. As the town slowly recovers, the question remains: will the authorities act swiftly to restore the main market and provide relief to the struggling vendors?

Efforts to seek comments from the authorities have yielded no response. However, Pauline Timothy, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Port Vila City Council (PVCC), stated “the market is still closed until further notice.”