24 Jun 2015

More street vendors in Samoa due to markets new rules

4:00 pm on 24 June 2015

The number of street vendors in Samoa appears to be growing, while parts of the new Fugalei market remain empty.

Last week the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, said the grace period for vendors to sell on the streets while the Fugalei market was being constructed is now over.

He instructed police to arrest illegal vendors to teach them a lesson.

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Photo: RNZ / Mary Baines

Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says as long as vendors have a permit from police, and are not selling imported goods, they are allowed to sell on the streets.

He says the increase in street vendors stems from new rules at the new market, which excludes all food items except for fresh agricultural produce.

"There is an increase of these street vendors making keke pua'a for example, those kind of food stuffs selling on the street. And also you can see quite a number of people selling snacks on the street, can of soda, a packet of twisties."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says people were allowed to sell these items at the old markets, which likely accounts for the empty spaces at the new Fugalei market.

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