While the western towns of Tavua and Ba are buzzing with the usual Christmas hype with people doing their last minute shopping, many are just buying essential items as they do not have any extra money to indulge themselves in the festivities.

Tavua town resident Rita told Fijivillage that people have been struggling to save up over the past few weeks in order to be able to afford a decent Christmas meal for their families.

She said this is because many people are unemployed in Tavua while those dependent on sugarcane farming are saving up for the new cane season.