Many of the roadside vendors, who last year took over the waterfront side of Vuna Road, have moved their stalls to Siamelie, a temporary market area situated on the waterfront in Ma’ufanga.

Taniela Hoponoa of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries (MAFFF) said today that Cabinet had directed on Friday, 9 January that all roadside vendors along Vuna Road must cease by Friday, 23 January.

He said about 95 percent of the vendors had moved to the landfilled site on Vuna Road.

“The vendors provide their own shelters allowed by the Market Authority and pay a fee of less than $1.50 per square meter a day. Those who have not moved inside the new facility and continue to use the roadside are breaking the law.”

He said the MAFFF and the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour had financed from recurrent votes the land filling, leveling, fencing and construction of public toilets at the market area. The land for the market is being leased by government from the landowner Lord Fakafanua.

Upon completion, the facility was handed over to the Talamahu Market Authority to manage and implement. Vendors were invited to use it as a temporary market.

Meanwhile, today only a few vendors were selling their products at the market area while others were still building stalls.

Since last year roadside vendors had taken over the waterfront area and were hampering a beautification program of the Nuku’alofa waterfront.