A FISH seller at the Honiara Central Market is encouraging the unemployed to make use of whatever opportunities they have to earn money for themselves instead of relying on others for survival.
Charles Maemae, who hails from Fourau village in Malaita Province, sells fish daily at the market to support his family who live in the Malaita Provincial Capital Auki.
Mamae and his wife, who also vends fish, but at the Auki Central Market, have five children – four boys and a girl.
Solomon Star caught up with Mamae as he goes about vending fish at the market yesterday and he shared his story.
Mamae said he gets his fish products from fishing boats and resells them to make a profit, adding that he started this fish reselling venture four months ago and he enjoys it.
“Reselling fish here at the Honiara Central Market is really beneficial for me because I make good money out of it.
“The fish I buy from the fishing boats that dock in the Honiara Habor is sold at the price of $100 dollars per bag and a bag contains five big fish,” he said.
“I normally go out to the fishing boats on speed boats and this costs $100 dollars if I load bags of fish and return with them to the market.
“I sell the fish at the price range of $80 to $150 for one. I also have salesmen who I must commission with $100 for selling my fish,” Mamae added.
Mamae said with this little business venture, he is able to see more money, which he is saving to build a new home for his family at Kwaibala in Auki and also pay for his children’s school fees.
“All my children are currently in high school and with the money that I earn from reselling fish, I am able to complete all their outstanding fees.
“Despite this being a casual business as it entirely depends on when the fishing boats arrive in the country, I am satisfied with the money I make from it,” a smiling Mamae said.
Mamae said his fish reselling business prevents him from going to the garden and selling garden produces at the market, which he used to do in Auki but did not earn as much money as he does from fish reselling.
“Selling garden produces at the market is good but gardening requires much physical labor and the income I earned from selling my garden produces was minimal.
“I am not saying that I will do away with gardening for good but I am just making use of the opportunity that I have in reselling fish to make money for me and my family.”
As Mamae enjoys the benefits of his fish reselling business, he encourages others out there who do not have a formal employment to seize whatever opportunity they have to earn money for their survival.
“Even it means getting up from your sleep and leaving home at twilight or returning home very late, hard-earned money is rewarding. It is better to earn your living than relying on handouts and the mercy of others for your survival.
“Don’t be shy or be uncomfortable to do small businesses like reselling fish because you will actually earn good money,” he said.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
