Eighteen million dollars in arrears is owed to the Suva City Council and 600 of these matters are now before the court.

SCC Special Administrator Chandu Umaria says so far this year they have managed to collect $11 million.

Umaria says the outstanding areas also include those of previous years and says they are now awaiting the court’s decision on the 600 properties.

He says apart from this 700 other cases are before the small claims tribunal.

Majority of the people he says are now paying their dues on a weekly basis.

Ratepayers of Suva neighbour Lami are also slow in clearing their dues which now stands at around $700,000.