Ratepayers and Citizens Association revived for the better
The Labasa Ratepayers and Citizens Association has been revived after ten years. The association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Hotel Northwinds in Labasa, last Thursday night with 24 people in attendance. The meeting was formalised in accordance to its constitution and the election of office bearers.
Paul Jaduram is now president, secretary is Kamlesh Prasad, treasurer is Piyush Patel and vice presidents are Ratu Tevita Toloi and Mahendra Prasad.
Association secretary, Mr Prasad said the main aim and objective of the association was its role as watchdog, in the absence of an elected Council.
He said the association wanted the Minister for Local Government to call for municipal elections and to see that ratepayers be represented in Council’s affairs.
“The Government must not push the Special Administrator concept solution to solve the problem,” Mr Prasad said.
“Affairs and businesses should be given back to the ratepayers.
“It has been very long in the hands of those who have no understanding of issues dear to the residents of Labasa.”
Mr Prasad said the Government must not be scared of giving back the citizens’ representation at the Local Government level and the Minister, a former consumer advocate should know this better. He said the meeting also focussed on other issues that the Council had failed in addressing.
“The sewer tank water overflowing into an open drain at Bhujawan Street is an old problem which could not be fixed in the last decade,” he said.
“Whenever there is power outage, the pump fails, and the sewer is released in this drain.
“The matter has been taken up with the Council, Water and Sewerage Department and Minister for Waterway, but to no avail.”
He said all these problems and many more had not been attended to for quite some time.
“There have been illegal developments, people encroaching into others’ land and buildings without proper and approved plans.
“There are other matters the Council is dragging its feet from. “All these and many other issues cannot be raised and taken by the residents alone,” he said.
“That is where the association comes in hand and writes to the Council and the minister, and does follow-ups.
“We shall be having monthly meet
ings.
“And we have decided that each ratepayer pays an annual subscription fee of $5 per year to become the financial members of this association.”
He said without money and members no organisation could exist. Mr Prasad added a bigger meeting is planned for in the near future at
a public place which will require
Police permit.
“The Ratepayers of Labasa are urged to unite under this association, they now have a voice which is not only legal but has been set up as per the constitution,” he said.