FIJI’S Minister for Local Government Parveen Kumar opened the two-day Amalgamation of Municipal Councils and Rural Local Authorities and Housing and Community Development Symposium at the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) in Suva today.
In his address, Mr Kumar said the collaboration was in line with the national development plan by promoting equal opportunities for all Fijians.
“This includes providing access to both the urban and rural Fijians in building a better Fiji. For municipal councils, this is an opportunity, a challenge that works towards their strength,” he said.
Mr Kumar said some of the challenges as rural and urban merger took place would involve dealing with business licenses, extension of basic sanitation services, which would also include solid waste management and transport management schemes at regional level.
Various stakeholders at the event would get the opportunity to present and discuss on some of the issues , including fiscal policy amendments, legal framework on amalgamation and transitional services.
