Funds must follow responsibilities, says MP as councils await FRA handover

Opposition Independent Member of Parliament Alvick Maharaj has urged the Government to ensure maintenance funding from the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is redirected to municipal councils when responsibility for footpaths, streetlights and natural waterways is transferred.

The Coalition Government has announced that FRA will transfer responsibility for these assets to town and city councils.

However, Labasa Town Council Special Administrator Samuela Ligairi said FRA had not yet formally handed over these responsibilities.

Mr Maharaj said he supported the transfer but believed FRA must ensure Government-funded maintenance allocations were transferred to municipal councils.

"I understand councils will have additional expenditure to take care of with maintenance of footpaths, streetlights and natural waterways," he said.

The former assistant minister said accountability would be crucial in any transfer of responsibilities.

Mr Ligairi said repairs and maintenance of footpaths and streetlights would require significant capital.

He said other councils had raised similar concerns because they wanted assurance about how maintenance funding would be accessed.

"Footpaths and streetlights get deteriorated over time because of daily usage, so while we are delighted with this responsibility, we request funds to help manage it."

Special administrator Paul Jaduram called on the relevant ministry to facilitate the transfer of maintenance funding from FRA.

The Coalition Government endorsed the transfer of responsibilities to enable quicker maintenance responses and improve services for residents.

The change is expected to improve service delivery, streamline urban management and ensure communities receive more timely maintenance support.

Mr Jaduram said FRA already had a dedicated Budget under the National Budget for maintaining streetlights, footpaths and natural waterways.

"We can cater for the maintenance efforts of footpaths and streetlights; however, this specific fund under FRA, if transferred to municipal councils, will aid us to better manage these facilities," he said.

He said municipal councils had managed these facilities before responsibility was transferred to FRA.

"The fund that went to FRA should be transferred to municipal councils. We don't mind taking responsibility, but we want a proper handover from FRA," he said.

Mr Jaduram said Labasa Town Council planned to install additional streetlights in areas with poor visibility.

"The aim is to create illumination in dark spots where criminal activities are common to happen to enable police to easily spot perpetrators and arrest them," he reiterated.

The Fiji Roads Authority acknowledged questions from this newspaper and said it required more time to respond.