Labasa Town Council staff members have been told by Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh to resign if they want to be served.

Mr Singh told the staff and special administrators they could not do favours for ratepayers but could help them out.

“I do not want any staff here to feel they are obliged,” he said.

Mr Singh said there were many examples of the municipality’s poor services.

“One is, we had been complaining to the council that the drains were falling apart, and the road in Nadawa was not in good condition.

“Yet, they did nothing. We had to spend $15,000 to fix that road. “Now, this is not the way councils should operate.”

In response, council chair Paul Jaduram said ratepayers were to be served without delay because they were paying the salaries of the council’s staff.

He said the staff should not make the ratepayers run around if they have a problem.