Jobs of more than 30 employees of the Nasinu Town Council (NTC) are uncertain. This after the historic move by the Suva City Council (SCC) to collect garbage from the Nasinu suburbs starting next Monday, September 21.

Nasinu Town Council chief executive officer, Anurashika Bari, said these employees have, however applied for a job at the SCC.

The 12-month agreement was signed by the two municipalities yesterday.

The whole exercise cost $2.4 million of which the Government was providing $1.6 million and the rest provided by the Nasinu Town Council.

Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar, said this was being done for the first time and was a pilot project that could lead to municipalities establishing a company for waste collection.

She said while Suva took over the garbage collection, there was an urgent need for Nasinu residents to change their behavior and attitude towards rubbish collection.

There would be an awareness campaign and schedules given out.

“Separate waste and follow the schedules, and Nasinu residents need to pay up your rates and waste collection fee,” Ms Kumar said.

“I treat collection of solid waste as an essential service and every citizen must pay for this as you pay your water and power bills.”

It is no secret that poor rate collection at Nasinu Town Council has left the municipality without a good cash flow.

Suva has 11,400 ratepayers compared to 11,200 from Nasinu. Suva rates are four times higher than Nasinu rates.

This has led to Suva collecting rates up to $15 million while Nasinu’s amounting to $3.5 million annually.

Nasinu chief executive Anurashika Bari said they would ensure the payments for the garbage collection service was done to Suva.

Suva and Lami special administrator Isikeli Tikoduadua said collections in Suva would not be affected.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

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