Ex-offender Ioane Delatabua at his canteen in Nawaqabena village in Naitasiri.

Naitasiri man Ioane Delatabua is putting to good use his business skills - something he learnt during the two years he spent in prison.

Delatabua was released from prison in October 2010 after serving his two-year sentence.

During his incarceration, Delatabua went through rehabilitation programmes which helped him make a decision to start a business in his village.

He was selected to be part of a group of inmates that went through training on small business. The training was conducted by the National Center for Small Micro Enterprise Development.

Delatabua went to his Nawaqabena village following his release and began a small canteen business selling groceries.

His customers are mainly members of his village and the community that lives around the area.

And the construction of the new road in that area has also boosted sales when Chinese road workers buy from his shop.

He has saved about $500.00 from his canteen business and he knows that he can expand his business into an even bigger one.

His immediate need is to build a bigger shop and also to have sound business consultancy ideas which will help improve his knowledge. 

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