The Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Community Development will be reviewing some of the regulations within municipal councils in order to ease the burden for rate collection.
The line Minister, Hon. Premila Kumar highlighted this during her recent tour to Rakiraki Town and elaborated that there were challenges being faced by many municipalities during rate collection.
“We are facing a huge challenge and rate collection has become difficult, and for this reason the plan for all 13 municipal council is that for next year I will be reviewing the laws because just as taxes are important to carry out development, rates are equally important for municipal projects.”
Minister Kumar revealed that the Rakiraki Town Council has an outstanding rate arrears of $72,000 and this is a challenge being faced in most municipalities around the country.
“We understand that Rakiraki is an agriculture-based community and we have to be mindful of that so there is no need for a drastic fees and charges, only thing we are urging the public to do is to please pay up because with that money the councils will be able to do more,” she said.
Minister Kumar highlighted that the Fijian Government has been assisting Councils in some of the work conducted and has provided $50,000 for each small municipal Council.
Meanwhile, the Minister also met with Rakiraki market vendors association where she again urged vendors to be well-organised and ensure that all market rules are followed.
“I urge you to go and speak to your members to keep the market clean and tidy. Remember you spend most of your time in your market and if the market is neat and tidy it is good for you as well.
Minister Kumar again called on the Association to avoid any discrimination within the market as the market is a place to do business and for everyone to be treated fairly.