It was mid day in Lautoka when I went into town. As we neared the CBD, we had to slowdown because of the heavy traffic, people crossing at pedestrian crossings, jay walkers, slow vehicles, cars doubled parked and people crossing dangerously. Then we stopped at the City Mall and the eateries were full of people. And the supermarkets were full. Taxis, legal and illegal were doing brisk booming trade. I saw people crossing the road with supermarket shopping carts full of groceries going to their parked cars. Four wheel drives were everywhere.
At a supermarket I spotted a family, a lady was with her children and husband pushing the cart full of cheap groceries. At the cashier the total was $185. The man pulled out his ATM bank card and the cashier asked, “Do you need cash back sir?” He looked at his with who nodded and he said, “$150 please. The card was swiped the groceries paid for the man received the cash, gave $100 to his wife and took the $50 and went straight to the liqueur department and bought 1 carton of Fiji Bitter. Then they were gone, in an illegal taxi that was parked conveniently out side.
As I stood there a group of young men went pass and one started coughing and with a loud krrrrrr and a tway, tway, he spat a huge glob of mucus laden sputum into the gutter. Then ladies walked pass with toddlers holding onto their dresses. At a corner a beggar was making good taking and he had a parcel of fish and chips beside him.
People from all walks of life were out and about, “And as I walked pass friends, many vibrant, “Bula Allen, what’s up?” As they hurried pass to where they went. And at Shirley Park a church programme was being held. At Churchill Park, children’s sports was going and at Natabua secondary school children’s rugby was going.
Life carries on in our corner of the country, and as I entered little shops the “ting, ting” of cash registers was never ending. Business is booming, and life goes on.
It's apparent, not all of us are living in poverty.
Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.
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