Page 24 - IB FEB 2017

Business
Entrepreneur defies the odds to survive

by Frederica Elbourne
SIX years ago, a physically challenged
woman in a wheelchair ventured out into
the streets to sell her home-made meals
and pastries.
At the time, she met with disapproval
from people she knew. The local authori-
ties didn’t make it any easier for her.
But she didn’t give up.
Today, 55-year-old Taina Foss, nee
Shaw of Nukuwatu, Lami, is an estab-
lished small micro entrepreneur who
reckons she is richer than most blue-collar
workers.
She epitomizes physical disability being
a non-deterrent against one’s endeavor to
succeed in life.
“I didn’t want to depend on anyone.
When I started, people disagreed – sit-
ting by the curb in my wheelchair doing
this,” she said as she waved her hand
to the knee-high table next to her upon
which one will find an array of pastries,
roti parcels, fresh seasonal fruit drinks to
name just a few items she sells.
“They said it didn’t look good for a
disabled person to sit in public doing that.
“Today, I think I make more money
than those with better jobs, because on
Mondays they’re at my door asking for
money – my credit book is full of names.”
Through her peddling, the widow and
mother of four, solely supports her young-
est offspring, a 15-year old fourth form
student of Cathedral Secondary School.
“When my husband passed away, we
had no financial support. I had a daughter
to support. I had to get the business reg-
istered. They wouldn’t give it to me easy
but I refused to budge,” she said amid her
claims of being bullied and pushed around
by local authorities.
After citing discrimination with local
law enforcers, Mrs Foss took her concerns
to the Office of the Prime Minister.
“That’s how I managed to secure a
registered business. That was a couple
of years ago.”
Unrelenting efforts on her part has since
paid off as she speaks of how she now
owns two healthy bank accounts.
Never say die ... Taina Foss at her streetside stall in Lami. Photo: Frederica Elbourne

24 Islands Business, February 2017