Japan Gives More than $170K to Sigatoka Council
The grant, which is channelled towards addressing solid waste management in Sigatoka, will be used to buy a five-ton compactor truck for the town.
Around 297 ratepayers and more than 500 businesses in Sigatoka Town will benefit from a $170,504 grant given by the Japanese government to the Sigatoka Town Council.
The grant, which is channelled towards addressing solid waste management in Sigatoka, will be used to buy a five-ton compactor truck for the town.
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar said the council outsource waste collection services to a private contractor because it did not have a fleet to deliver the service in-house.
The cost of outsourcing the service is $70,311.31.
“In receipt of this grant, the compactor truck will certainly reduce the overall cost of waste collection,” Ms Kumar said.
“The revenue gathered by the council from other streams that was used for waste management could now be used to beautify the Sigatoka Town, redevelop parks and open spaces and manage other exciting projects.”
She said the need for a clean urban environment was essential for Sigatoka because it was a tourist town.
She also pleaded with the communities to use the services available appropriately including public bins to keep the towns clean and tidy.
Charge d’Affairs of Japan to Fiji, Hada Tsuguyoshi, said the assistance was funded through their Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.
Under the programme, Japan has implemented 392 projects with a total value exceeding US$28 million (FJ$56.40m) to assist grassroots communities in Fiji since 1990. Apart from the compactor truck that will be bought for Sigatoka Town, Japan has provided 12 garbage compactor trucks to municipal councils here.
“This five-ton garbage compactor truck will not only provide a more efficient waste collection service to the people of Sigatoka with its increased transport capacity and faster loading of garbage, but also create improved working environment for garbage collectors, who are constantly exposed to the stench of garbage, bacteria and toxic substances,” Mr Hada said. Furthermore, he reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to providing continued assistance for the sustainable and inclusive development of Fiji, in line with the Fijian Government’s national development objectives.