Taking responsibility for waste disposal is critical to addressing the growing problem of blocked drains in municipalities, said Minister for Local Government and Housing Maciu Nalumisa.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Market Inspiring Women Cooperative at the Suva Municipal Market carpark on Thursday morning, Mr Nalumisa stressed that maintaining clean urban spaces was a collective duty.
“We need to look at how we look after our municipalities, this is our civic responsibilities,” he said.
He said improper disposal of rubbish by residents continue to contribute to drainage issues across towns and cities. Mr Nalumisa highlighted that while municipal councils played a role in maintaining infrastructure, responsibility also rested with the public.
“It’s something that all of us, residents, commuters’ people who go through these towns and city, we need to take care of the waste we have.”
He noted that councils were often left to respond after drains were already clogged.
“It’s not only the responsibility of municipal council, but we also all have a role to play.”
Mr Nalumisa also revealed that changes were expected in the near future, including reverting the maintenance of drains and footpaths back to municipalities.
He said improved systems and shared accountability would be key to addressing drainage challenges nationwide.
