The Suva City Council will be taking over some operation of the Nasinu Town Council. Garbage collection is a major part of it.

Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar, confirmed that Suva’s help was needed to ensure smoother operations especially with garbage collection.

“This is under the shared services programme, Suva will be taking over the garbage collection in Nasinu. It requires a lot of work,” she said.

“For example, sorting out the trucks Nasinu have and how that should be given to Suva. We are working on the MOU (memorandum of understanding), the cost, what payment should be made to Suva for the collection of the garbage and the service they will be providing.

“We have to hire workers who will be part of the Suva garbage collection team.”

The cash strapped Nasinu Town Council, in the last few months, has had to let go of contractors, opting to undertake all work by its staff.

Contractors’ scope of work included garbage collection, cutting grass and cleaning drains.

According to Nasinu Town Council, this was a result of the large number of defaulters, however the municipality has been in trouble waters for some time.

And their situation is further marred by allegations of corruption.

All finer details and the cost for Suva to carry out this work is still being finalised.

The Government and Nasinu Town Council could both be paying for this service undertaken by Suva City Council.

Ms Kumar said this should roll out at the end of this month.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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