11 Jul 2020

French to use Bastille Day to help Fijians

10:12 am on 11 July 2020

Fiji's French community and Francophiles will celebrate Bastille Day this weekend in a new way.

Ambassador Jean-François Fitou said an event is planned to support Fijian families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Fitou said the embassy will host a market day on Saturday in Suva to assist struggling vendors.

Market vendor with taro crop for sale at the Lautoka Municipal Market, Fiji

Photo: RNZI/Sally Round

He said celebrations in France will be marred by deaths caused by the virus where World Health Organisation figures show almost 30,000 people have died from Covid-19.

While there have been no deaths in Fiji, Mr Fitou said, many people had lost their jobs or livelihoods.

About 100 vendors will participate in the event at Thurston Gardens where there are no stall fees.

Bastille Day, held on 14 July in France, celebrates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 - a military fortress and prison - in a violent uprising that helped usher in the French Revolution.