Any derelict vehicles found abandoned within the central business areas of Nausori Town will be removed immediately.

The Nausori Town Council is working with the Land Transport Authority to remove the vehicles over the coming days.

Special Administrator Uma Patel said some cars had been left unattended for over a year and has become an eyesore for residents.

“Most of them don’t have number plates and the Chassis number is also not visible. We have taken guidance from the LTA and they have confirmed that they have powers to remove such vehicles,” he said.

“It occupies unnecessary space on roads, breeding place for mosquitoes and in some cases children use these cars to play hide and seek and it is quite dangerous for small kids. We want them to be removed.”

The council has also spoken to scrap metal dealers and has successfully attracted interest from one company who will take the vehicles and recycle them.

“We will soon be issuing notices to the garage owners. One in Manoca Industrial Area and the other one in Vunimono.”

Mr Patel said he had a meeting with the Fiji Police Force and the Nausori Chamber of Commerce last week to discuss the issue of illegal activities in Nausori.

Abandoned vehicles left for scraps.

Illegal operators

Collectively as of last week Friday, the council has started joint operations with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to target single cigarette roll sellers. Police to curb illegal activities, the town council to remove illegal vendors from selling root crops and fish on footpaths and with LTA to monitor illegal parking and illegal operators in town.

Police has also provided a full time mobile camera truck, he said that will operate at night to keep an eye on illegal acts and unnecessary movement of people in town.

The council is also requesting liquor shop owners to close their shops early by 9.30pm so that people can go home on time before curfew starts at 11pm.

“Another option for them would be to only sell liquor to sober customers who have cars from 9.30pm – 10pm,” Mr Patel said.

“This is entirely their call, but if they are selling liquor to drunkards then they themselves are calling for trouble later.”

He acknowledged their partners for agreeing to the joint operations and added that their focus was to make Nausori town a safe place for everyone.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

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