The Minister of Local Governance met with the Lami Town Council today having previously visited other town councils in the country.

The Minister of Local Governance met with the Lami Town Council today having previously visited other town councils in the country.

During today’s meeting, the minister was informed that the Lami Town Council is owed $1.8m by ratepayers.

Premila Kumar says the taxpayers’ non-compliance with town rates has proven costly with smaller towns now owing more despite their small town boundaries

“We have established that about $1.8m is owed in rates, in business license, in property rentals not paid and so forth. Even garbage collection, people are not paying their garbage rates and that’s a lot of money for a small town like Lami.”

Ratepayers are being urged to take advantage of the lee-way given to them and settle their dues with the deadline extended to the end of next month.

“If they pay up the principal sum, all the interest will be discarded and not taken into consideration so the waiver will be given on the interest rate.”

Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Premila Kumar says the outstanding rates owed to the 13 municipal councils stand at $33 million with the Suva City Council recording the highest collectible amount of over $20m.