1. Momo Na Tui Nadi
2. Momo Na Tui Nawaka
3. Chair of Special Administrator for Nadi and Sigatoka Town Councils – Mr. Lawrence Kumar
4. Special Administrator for Nadi and Sigatoka Town Council – Mr. Sanjit Sharma
5. Permanent Secretary for Local Government – Ms. Seema Sharma
6. Acting Chief Executive of Sigatoka Town Council – Mr. Muni Pillay
7. President of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce – Mr. Ram Raju
8. Invited Guests
9. Ladies and Gentlemen

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1. A good morning to you all.

 

2. It gives me great pleasure to officially hand over a new Backhoe Loader to the Nadi Town Council.

 

3. I have been informed that this acquisition was made to address the challenges faced by the Council. The Council has not been able to provide regular services to maintain waste collection and disposal, drainage upkeep, vegetation management, parks and open space development and maintenance.

 

4. I am pleased that the new Loader, which cost $175,000, will greatly help the Town Council in its effort to promote a healthy environment, and bring about clean and safe space to the residents of Nadi Town. I am hopeful that the Backhoe Loader will further help maintain the natural beauty and promote tourism in the tourist hub.

 

5. The 7 tonne Backhoe Loader will provide the much-needed support to the Council to clean the earthen drain in the town boundary before rainy seasons, refuse picking during cleanup campaigns, cleanup after floods, and earth works.

 

6. This machinery will undoubtedly reduce the cost of the Council while providing the service to the ratepayers of Nadi. Not to mention, it will improve the service delivery, which is one of the core responsibilities of the Council. The cost of outsourcing once reduced will result in procurement of other equipment. 

 

7. I would like to reiterate that the Council needs to put emphasis on strengthening its revenue streams to ensure financial sustainability.

 

8. Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

9. One key focus of the Coalition Government is to bring about civic pride and sense of commitment in the way Municipal Councils operate.  In my visits to the Councils, I have re-emphasised that a Council must operate as a commercial entity.  A Council earns, spends, and invests like a business.

 

10. Hence, Municipal Council must have robust and sustainable revenue stream to deliver services to the ratepayers and residents. Essential services are critical to ensure that we have safe and clean municipalities. For Councils to provide the services, they need to have strong and sustainable revenue base, therefore, ratepayer must pay their rates on time.

 

11. At this juncture, I acknowledge the ratepayers who have been up to date with their rates payment, which has enabled the Council to acquire this machinery. Nadi Town has 3,077 ratepayers, out of which 504 are business ratepayers and 2,350 are residential ratepayers.

 

12. The Nadi Town Council is owed $4,680,543.72, in rates, as of 28 February 2023. I urge the ratepayers of Nadi to make efforts to pay their rates to allow the Council to provide the essential services required for safe and clean environment and provide a conducive environment for development and business opportunities.

 

13. Ladies and Gentlemen, a clean town brings in a sense of pride to the people and the public visiting the cities and towns. It also attracts more people as well as investors to our municipalities.

 

14. It is imperative that the Council has proper fleet to assist them to deliver the services in the respective communities as expected by the ratepayers. Appropriate fleet would certainly mean that the Councils are able to provide the services efficiently.

 

15. I believe that Nadi Town Council will put this machinery to good use.

 

16. I would like to thank the Team of Special Administrators, the Management and Staff of the Council. Congratulations on the acquisition of this new machinery.

 

17. Ladies and Gentlemen, a commitment of the Coalition Government is conducting Municipal Council Elections, this year. I am delighted to share that the Working Group for the Municipal Council Elections for Councillors is working towards developing an Action Plan, which will act as a guidance for the proposed election processes.

 

18. The Operational Groups – Drafting, Policy and Logistics are coordinating to amend the fundamental legislative provisions in the Local Government Act, timelines for the preparatory works and conduct of the Municipal Elections, guidelines and policies for the elected Councillors and Mayors.

 

19. Ladies and Gentlemen, as a fundamental principle of the Government, we believe in consultation and getting the ideas from the people.  In this regard, the Ministry will begin a round of consultations on the election preparations. We will be having public consultations in the three divisions in the coming weeks.  We want ratepayers to help formulate the way forward for the elections. Your contribution is important. 

 

20. In addition to the Municipal Council Elections, the Ministry is working on the policy reforms to increase the retirement age from 55 years to 60 years. With the Coalition Government's policy to change the retirement age for civil service to 60 years, the Ministry had to ensure that the amendment is reflected in the Local Government Act 1972.

 

21. The Ministry believes that it will bring about uniformity with the National Government policy and give relief to the council employees, who were without consultation imposed with the revised retirement age.

 

22. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Ministry remains committed to provide all the support needed by the Municipal Councils to provide the services to the ratepayers.

 

23. Vinaka Vakalevu.