Good news for shoppers this Christmas season with the extension of trading hours.
The Attorney General, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum this afternoon at a press conference on the new liquor and business hours and the special zones said that as from today, the trading hours will extend to 9pm throughout Fiji for all shops, opening seven days a week.
This announcement follows the Cabinet decision last Friday on the creation of two special zones and the general extension for retail and commercial trading hours.
Liquor trading hours have also been extended for all the different categories and has been made regular across the board.
“Hotel liquor trading hours will now be twenty four hours seven days a week, taverns will now be open from 11am to 1am daily, restaurants will now close at midnight and nightclubs will be open from 5pm to 1am daily,” he said.
Highlighting the special zones, the Attorney General said that the shops in these zones can be open for twenty four hours and for seven days a week.
“Liquor trading hours for taverns in these areas will be from 7am to 3am daily, restaurants will open from 7am to 3am daily and nightclubs will open from 5pm to 5am,” he said.
Special zones in the Suva area are from Gladstone street, Usher Street and behind Victoria Parade. Similarly, special zones in the Nadi area include the Saunaka road following the Enamanu road and on the right side, the boundary for this area is the Nadi river bank which extends all the way to the Votualevu roundabout.
In addition, the Attorney General said that the Nadi area was a lot bigger due to it being a tourist area, providing opportunities for investors and tourists to shop and take advantage of the trading hours putting Fiji in step with many countries who have tourism as major contributors to their economy.
Consultations with the Commissioner of Police and the Minister for Local Government have also been carried out and advertisements on the extension of trading hours can be expected in tomorrow’s Fiji Sun newspaper.