Village shops sell only very basic dry goods and occasionally eggs. We have bought a shop on freehold land just near the airport and are renovating the store to sell supermarket goods, hardware supplies, gas bottle and fuel and car parts (e.g. tires). Until this happens we will continue to transport goods to the island. Life becomes easier on the island if you set up accounts in Suva , have your own phone, organize your goods to be delivered to the SOFI and pick them up at the wharf, or have them picked up and delivered to you.

Local Koro Truck Drivers

Levi, the carrier from Navaga can pick up the gas bottles/fuel/supplies for you and deliver them to you for a delivery fee. Navaga phone number is 3440712. Lai has a truck for hire and he can pick up goods in Suva for you or the wharf - his number is 923 9822.

Fuel

Fuel can be bought through Shell or Mobil or BP in Suva in 200 litre drums (44 gal). A credit account can be set up with these companies. Alternatively there is fuel store in Navaga village or Nosonos near the ferry wharf.

Gas Bottles

Gas bottles can be bought at Tulani for $50 small and $150 large plus deposit on the bottles. An account can be set up with Fiji Gad at Wailada in Lami, Suva to put gas bottles on the SOFI for you - this will be cheaper but more effort on your part.

Food

An account can be set up in Suva with Morris Hedstrom Supermarkets (MH) through Carpenters Finance in Dominion House (opposite the Village 6 cinema)

You can fax an order through to MH and they will deliver the SOFI and load your supplies as deck cargo and place goods in refrigerator or freezer on the boat if required. This can be done at either Suva or Savusavu end of the journey. The freight will have to be paid at pick up on the Koro end. You can either pick up the goods yourself or have Levi, the Navaga village carrier pay your freight and deliver the goods to you. You will have to let him know in advance about the pick up and give him some money for freight and delivery to your home.

Joe's Farm at 78 Ragg Ave in Tamavua is the gourmet supermarket in Suva . You have to fill out an account form for a monthly account with a credit limit and they can deliver to the SOFI. See address book for contacts.

Also, New World Supermarket will deliver to the SOFI but need money in your account before they do this. It is best to have a freight account with the SOFI (Consort Shipping).

Building Materials

For building materials you can contact Mr Ashish Kumar or RC Manubhai & Co Ltd on phone 3384300 or fax 3383562 email rcmsv@connect.com.fj. Ashish's service and attention to detail is highly recommended and he is the main reason for us to shop at Manubhai Ashish's mobile number is 9960528.

Accounts can be set up with Manubhai . They can deliver to the wharf or you can hire a carrier in Suva to deliver them to your property. Carriers can be SOFI trucks hired from Consort Shipping or Azam Ali. Small loads can be deck loaded and picked up by Levi and delivered to you.

Buy Locally

It is important to buy locally available tools and appliances. If anything goes wrong with the tool or appliance, it can be serviced and repaired. If it is an overseas model that is not available here you may not be able to get it fixed.

Electrical Goods

The electricity supply in Fiji is 240 V- American appliances are 110v so buy local 240v appliances or 12v depending on your energy system.

Plumbing Fittings

Fiji measurement system is Metric (metres and millimeters) American is imperial- feet and inches. Plumbing fittings are easier to install if they are bought locally.

Plumber

Mr. Nair is plumber from Suva who has done most of the work on the new houses in Koro. His ph number is 9919454. His rate is $6/hour plus fares and accommodation and meals.

Mechanic

Manasa of Navaga village is a basic mechanic on cars, generators, etc. He is available to fix engines at $5/hour.

Dinesh Kumar can purchase spare parts for cars in Suva and come to Koro to service our cars.
He can be contacted on 991 8421.

Energy System for Home

Koro homes are self sufficient in energy i.e. power and water etc. We recommend solar power systems to generate electricity for your home and the collection of rainwater from the roof stored in tanks for your water supply. Bottled LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) can be used for cooking, hot water and even refrigeration.

Solar power systems are quiet and require minimal maintenance as compared to a diesel or petrol powered generating set. Whilst the solar power system costs more than a generator to buy initially it requires no fuel, little maintenance and is cheaper in the long term.

The solar power system can power lights and household appliance including refrigeration and water pump. To keep the power system size and cost to a minimum you should use energy efficient lighting and appliances where ever possible.

Solar (PV) panels, which are usually mounted on the roof, generate electricity from the sun and charge storage batteries. These batteries then provide 24 hours power to the house regardless of whether the sun is shinning. The amount of solar panels you need is determined by the amount electricity you use. The batteries are sized to store enough power for 5 days. This allows the solar power system to keep providing electricity even on rainy days.

Clay Engineering can design, cost, and install your solar power system for you - see address book.

Clay Engineering is the main electrical firm that comes to Koro and a maintenance contract can be worked out with them when they design and install your system.

If you have a generator, please ensure it a quiet one or soundproof it.

Waisali Tradesmen

Some Waisalians need tradesmen to come to their house or cars to do work. need to pick them up, and accommodate and feed them yourselves or organise them to stay in the village. Tavua $15 bed and breakfast, they can do their own cooking.

We are negotiating with the villages to accommodate other people's tradesmen as we can no longer look after them all. We will post arrangements as soon as they are finalised.