Food stall owners and vendors at the Savalalo flea market began moving out on Monday in keeping with a directive from their landlord Samoa Land Corporation.

For now they will be temporarily housed at the Fugalei market where they will await the construction and opening of a new market at Sogi.

S.L.C. Chief Executive Officer Ulugia Petelo Kavesi confirmed the relocation of the food stall owners and vendors to the Fugalei market in an interview with the Samoa Observer on Monday.

“The relocation has been planned and took a while to happen but now it’s happening today [Monday] as the vendors use their new blocks temporarily and wait for the new market to open because the space is not big enough to fit everyone,” he said.

“We give the chance first to all vendors and stalls [owners] who are honest with their rent payment and also good with the use and the looking after of their blocks to have a spot in this market.”

According to Ulugia, there are 24 blocks for food stalls and 36 blocks for other small flea market businesses at the temporary market location.

He said the new market at Sogi is likely to open next year but that would depend on the weather.

“The new market at Sogi plans to open next year depending on the weather but this is a place [at Fugalei] for them to wait until we finish that work.”

And while some food stall owners and vendors might not like the new location, Ulugia said the temporary market was done up well, and the sellers will gradually get used to it as time goes by.

“Another good advantage of this temporary market, it's well-constructed and provides more options for our vendors and small businesses in the future,” he said.

“So if they don’t want to move to the new market when it's finished, it’s up to them to decide if they still want to stay here and continue their business.”

One of the vendors who sells pies and pan cakes, Konelio Afele of Lotopa, told this newspaper that he was concerned about his customers accessing his food stall, but understands that it is only a temporary arrangement. 

“The difference will be the number of our customers to serve because the school children will stay at the bus stop in the old place,” said Mr Afele.

“But this is good, it's narrow but we can manage for this time.”

Another vendor Pio Ray of Elise was elated that the temporary location at Fugalei mark had more water taps for their use unlike the Savalalo flea market.

“I’m very happy here because each block has their own tap to use. I have sold my milky water for almost 15 years and the old market had only one tap that everyone used to supply the water for food and also to wash pots, fry pan and others.”