SIGNIFICANT changes to the jurisdiction of municipal councils and low ratepayer participation in previous municipal polls means reforms will need to be undertaken before any municipal council elections are held, says Local Government Minister Premila Kumar.
She also said under the stewardship of special administrators, town and city rate defaulters reduced from 42 per cent to 25 per cent — another important point to be considered.
She issued a statement yesterday in response to comments made by political parties and letters to the editor contributors on the municipal council election issue.
“I had clearly stated at the meeting with Nadi Chamber of Commerce on Saturday January 5, 2019, that I would not be able to give an exact date, as a lot of things still need to be done, such as revising legislations which are more than 40 years old,” said Mrs Kumar.
She said in August last year, rural-local authorities were transferred from the Health Ministry to Local Government and this needed to be taken into consideration.
“Extension of town or city boundaries is an important exercise to be undertaken before an election can be held.”
Mrs Kumar added that there was lack of clarity as to who could vote in municipal elections and the issue could be challenged in court.
She said in 2002, 37 per cent of the population voted in municipal council elections and in 2005 only 31 per cent participated.
