BY MYRNE LIVETT/ISLES MEDIA FREELANCER
An increase in transport fares for Tenaru and Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) areas to Honiara City is affecting market vendors’ daily struggle to earn sustainable profits.
One of Tenaru roadside market vendors and usual public bus passenger, Frank Patoa said Buses now increased the fare from Town to Tenaru at $15 and doubled for the GPPOL area which he said, is costly for vendors like him who are struggling to make earns meet on a daily basis.
“The disadvantage is we are still selling our goods at a low price, and for example those of us who are selling meals, we are earning very little due to the price of a fish in town is $100,” he explained.
“So I suggest the Government to consider that, and help sustain our small businesses,” he added. “Parliament always passed appropriation bills, but no real discussions in the issues which are affecting us every day.”
Patoa said vendors like him are trying their best every day to keep their small businesses going while facing the challenge.
Bus driver Crawford Ameda maintain that the high cost of fuel is the only reason why buses increased the fare.
He said, his bus now spends more time on the short trip from Lunga to Henderson as well as from the Town Council to Foxwood. Crawford pointed out, that a short trip is more efficient as he spends only $100 dollars refilling his tank for each trip while for a GPPOL trip will double that amount.
