Yoshiko Wakaniyasi and Ana Delailomaloma trade fresh produce through the Barter for Better Fiji Facebook page
Two piglets for a pre-loved kayak, a taxi fare in exchange for fresh produce, hot cross buns for online tutoring, an old carpet for a professional photography session, vegetable seedlings for homemade pies, and even offers to have backyards cleaned for prayers.
The above are just some of the examples of hundreds of barter trades that are taking place across Fiji since a Facebook page “Barter for Better Fiji” was created on April 21, 2020 – in response to sharp declines in employment due to coronavirus.
The page now has more than 130,000 members, in a country of just under 900,000 people.
The barter system is experiencing an enthusiastic resurgence across the Pacific with similar Facebook pages in Tonga – “Barter for Change” – two in Samoa “Barter for Better Samoa” and “Le Barter Samoa” with just over 1,000 members – and one in Vanuatu “Barter for Nambawan Life Vanuatu” – as the island nations are beginning to encounter economic challenges due to Covid-19.
Thankfully, the Pacific region has largely been spared the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, as at the end of April, there had only be recorded cases in six Pacific countries and territories – Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam and New Caledonia – which between them have reported 260 cases and seven deaths.
Still, most Pacific island-nations had closed their borders due to coronavirus fears and they are experiencing the impact of the suspension of international travel.
The IMF have forecast a 2.7% decline in growth for the Pacific Island Countries with a 40% decline in tourism across the region.
The Facebook page is a modern version of a centuries-old traditional practice, says Alisi Daurewa (right), an advocate and practitioner for people-centred development.
“The forebears of the iTaukei (indigenous Fijians) practised veisa in various situations and was birthed out of the value for reciprocity. For example, the coastal people of Nadroga in the Western part of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island could make salt, so they would take it up to their relatives up in the highlands of Nadroga/Navosa and those people, they have lovely wild pigs, the pork is tasty, so they would exchange salt from the sea, for wild pigs from the highlands”, she explained.
