Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: FILE]
The Labasa Town Council is looking at public-private partnerships to carry out projects it cannot finance through current revenue.
The council highlighted its financial challenges while appearing before the Standing Committee on Social Affairs to discuss its 2019, 2020 and 2021 annual reports.
Labasa Town Council ke Acting Chief Executive Irfaan Ali says funding remains the biggest challenge for the Labasa Town Council despite short-term and long-term development plans in place.
“While we have plans in place, when it comes to funding, we do not have the funds. That’s why we are going for public-private partnerships. So that means some of the projects which are pending are due to the funding aspect.”
Labasa Town Council Properties Officer, Salesh Nand, adds the council is also looking for a larger site for a new sporting facility capable of accommodating major events.
“Just recently, we discussed with the department. We were promised to be given a piece of land, but unfortunately, the lot which we are getting is around seven acres. So, within those seven acres, a national stadium will not be able to be fitted in there because we need other facilities as well, like a car park. And if we put athletics and other things, it will not fit in there.”
The council says private-sector support could help important projects move forward.
