The micro-management of municipalities around Fiji is indicative of the FijiFirst Government’s desperation for power to maintain their “my way or the highway” style of governance, says Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Viliame Gavoka.
He said Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar met virtually with the special administrators on Friday and thanked them for working tirelessly over the past two years to bring “better governance and institutional reforms”.
“We have been hearing about these so-called reforms since 2009, but to date, nothing has eventuated,” he said.
“The Ministry of Local Government has been headed by at least four different Cabinet ministers since the 2014 elections all promising reforms.”
He said SODELPA had been advocating for municipal elections since 2014 and reiterated the call today. “We are of the view that holding municipal elections allows ratepayers to have a say in the governance and development of their towns and cities.” He said the locally-elected councillors had better knowledge of their towns and cities and the citizens would better identify with their representatives.
“A SODELPA government will immediately restore municipal elections for ratepayers to have democratic representation in their various town and city councils.”
