Communication Spaces in the Market

20 March 2012

Suva, Fiji Islands

MEDIA STATEMENT: “Market Communication Spaces”

As a communications based feminist organization, FemLINKPACIFIC echoes the sentiments of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre about the need for clarity in the interpretation of laws and decrees. This is in light of the recent statements emanating from the Labasa Police claiming that gossiping is a criminal offence:

“What is also needed is clarity on communication rights because women and local communities need safe spaces for communication. This should be the focus, rather than threatening concerned groups with arrest, we would hope the police and local government authorities would investigate the cause of the possible conflict with the market community, rather than judging it as mere gossip“ says FemLINKPACIFIC Executive Director, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.

FemLINKPACIFIC has been documenting experiences and issues with local market vendors since 2001: “What needs to be supported and encouraged is an enabling environment for the vendors to organize to address issues in their work environment, which is the local market.”

To date, in 2012, FemLINKPACIFIC has featured interviews with 15 market vendors from Nausori, Suva, Lami and Labasa as a regular weekend feature called “The Market Report”:

“More specifically for Labasa we are aware there is immense congestion within the market and the competition for small spaces for the multitude of vendors can result in conflicts and tensions.”

“The message is the same. There is a need for infrastructure improvements especially as women, often the sole income earner for their family, travel long distances to sell their produce. This includes 24 hour access to the toilets as many have to sleep at the market to safeguard their produce, often without additional security for their protection.”

In May 2011, FemLINKPACIFIC, with the support of the UNDP Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development, enabled an interactive dialogue using community radio between market vendors, the Labasa Town Council as well as the Government’s Strategic Framework Unit.

Market vendors highlighted the need for improvements to the design and layout of the market for more equitable flow of market shoppers:

“While some vendors called for extension to the markets, others welcomed the opportunity to sell outside the market area; however, this also requires shelter from the sun and rain to protect produce from being damaged by the heat. However, a vendor with permanent stall inside the market said that it is not easy to maintain an income as many customers find it easier and cheaper to buy produce from vendors outside the market who don’t have to pay stall fees. She suggested this should be managed better. Another market vendor said that because her stall was away from the main entrance, she does not get good returns because shoppers are not able to reach her due to the congestion in the market.”

Market vendors in Labasa have also called for safe and affordable accommodation for the vendors who have to travel into Labasa town with their produce as many continue to spend the night at the market. There is no safe storage space for their crops.

“This has also demonstrated that community media in particular radio is a vital platform for rural women to claim their communication rights and relate their human security and development rights perspectives.”

In the wake of International Women’s Day and more important the recent UN Commission on the Status of Women, it is also sad to see the disconnection between the policy and human rights commitments to rural women, and the practice at local level:

“We reiterate the call to action from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre for gender sensitive and conflict prevention training. Additionally, local government authorities, must play a lead role in responding to issues affecting market vendors.”

ENDS

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