Municipals councils will no longer provide amnesty periods for defaulting ratepayers.

Speaking to the Special Administrators during a forum in Lami yesterday, Local Government Minister Premila Kumar said amnesty periods do not benefit to those ratepayers who are up to date with their dues.

Kumar adds councils such as Suva and Lautoka are owed in millions of dollars and amnesty periods provide an easy getaway for those who do not pay on time.

The municipal councils are also undertaking a rate profiling exercise to understand and respond to the needs of the ratepayers.

“I can assure you this is the last time ever we will be setting up an amnesty period. There will be no more amnesty for any of the municipal councils. The reason being the law clearly specifies the actions municipal councils can take.”

The Local Government Minister also stressed that Special Administrators need to come up with a strategy to recover the rates owed to each municipality.