Businesses will operate as normal tomorrow following the Suva City Councils decision to waiver the $22.50 special permit fee which they normally charged during public holidays.
Council Special Administrator Chandu Umaria says the decision was reached as a result of the recent spate of bad weather and power blackouts.
“Come this weekend – hardships by the retailers – one is the weather – zero business, number two – blackout we are experiencing that is something we are experiencing something which is unavoidable and they can operate on normal hours on Friday – Saturday – Sunday and Monday.”
Meanwhile the Suva Retailers Association has welcomed the City Councils decision of waving the permit fees.
President Himmat Lodhia says they can only hope the Council refrains from charging fees in the future.
He says such charges are not levied at all in any of the councils.
Lodhia adds that with an increase in 80 percent business licence fees and city rates the Council should not at all times be charging such kind of fees.
