Council rejects waste service claims by Opposition MP

Labasa Town Council special administrator Samuela Ligairi has rejected claims of poor waste collection services in Vunivau and Basoga.

The response follows criticism by Independent Opposition Member of Parliament Alvick Maharaj in Parliament yesterday, who said residents in the two areas were concerned about a lack of service.

Mr Maharaj said the areas were home to nearly 2000 households and that waste management remained an issue.

However, Mr Ligairi said the council continued to provide timely and quality waste collection services to ratepayers and could extend services to other areas if communities were willing to pay.

He acknowledged that poor waste management could lead to unhygienic conditions but stressed that services required funding to operate.

“We have our garbage collection trucks ready to provide service; however, communities need to pay for this service,” he said.

Mr Ligairi said communities interested in having services extended should engage with the council to discuss costs and arrangements.

"Getting our trucks to go and pickup garbage and waste leads to fuel usage and with the high cost for fuel, so a fee will be applicable to help us operate," he said. 

Mr Maharaj also claimed residents lacked proper waste disposal facilities and that the council had remained silent on the issue.

The council had earlier received requests from the Bulileka area, a few kilometres from Labasa Town, for an extension of waste collection services.

Mr Ligairi said it was now up to communities to organise and enter into payment agreements with the council to enable service delivery.

Council special administrator chairperson Paul Jaduram said extending services beyond existing boundaries would require additional charges, but residents had the option to access them.

He said council service boundaries extend from Labasa Town towards the Vatunibale Government quarters and across the bridge towards Tuatua.

Mr Jaduram also warned that poor waste management could contribute to mosquito breeding and dengue fever cases, urging households to keep their surroundings clean and free of water-holding containers.