MINISTER for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa reminded municipal council heads that the assets provided to them must not sit idle, but must be used consistently and effectively to serve the people.
While making his remarks during the handover of six brand-new nine-tonne garbage compactor trucks on Friday, he told the heads of the municipal councils that the public were expecting results, and they must deliver.
“While the Government and councils are doing their part, we also need the support of communities to keep our towns clean,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“This is more than a handover of vehicles. It is an investment for cleaner towns, stronger service delivery, and a safer environment for our people.
“It demonstrates the Coalition Government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing municipal operations and uplifting the quality of life for all ratepayers.”
The Ba Town Council received one truck, Nasinu Town Council received two, while the Sigatoka, Nadi, and Rakiraki town councils were each allocated one truck.
$1.5m waste trucks
THE Government has invested more than $1.5million to purchase six brandnew nine-tonne garbage compactor trucks for municipal councils, an initiative aimed at improving cleanliness in towns, strengthening service delivery, and ensuring a safer environment for all citizens.
The Ba Town Council received one truck, Nasinu Town Council received two, while the Sigatoka, Nadi, and Rakiraki Town Councils were each allocated one truck.
During the handover event on Friday, the Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa said when waste is not collected on time, the impact was immediate on households, businesses, tourism, public health, and the overall image of our towns.
“This Government understands this,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“Therefore, the investment of more than $1.5 million is a strategic step to support councils to deliver reliable, efficient, and highquality services to their communities.”
He said for too long, councils had been operating with aging fleets and high maintenance costs.
“This has affected waste collection schedules and the cleanliness of our urban centres.
“These new compactor trucks will now allow councils to address these issues directly improve timely and consistent waste collection, service coverage, including informal and peri-urban areas, lower long-term maintenance costs, and cleaner, safer, and healthier towns.
“For businesses, it means cleaner commercial zones. For households, it means reliable and predictable pick-up services. For councils, it means a stronger capacity to deliver on their core mandate.
“This is how a modern municipal system should function.
“This handover also speaks directly to our national commitment to climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and public health protection.”
Mr Nalumisa said poor waste management contributed to pollution, blocked drains, flooding, greenhouse gas emissions, and the degradation of rivers, reefs, and ecosystems.
“In a climate-vulnerable country like Fiji, we cannot afford weak waste systems.
“All these efforts help reduce pollution, protect our environment, and build a resilient Fiji for future generations.
“These trucks are part of a broader national strategy to strengthen waste management as a pillar of climate adaptation and mitigation.”
