Minister for Local Government aware about the major problems at Municipal Councils

Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar says she knows about major problems at Municipal Councils and whatever was identified in the 2013 Auditor General’s Report was correct.

Major anomalies have been highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report on Municipal Councils and this involves most of the municipalities.

The findings include increasing trend in rate arrears, absence of separation of duties, board of survey not carried out, delay in submission of financial statements, non‑performance of monthly bank reconciliations, salary reconciliation not carried out, interest not being charged on rates due, and non maintenance of appropriate and adequate accounting records.

When questioned by Fijivillage on what is being done in relation to this, Premila Kumar says good governance, accountability and transparency are few things that need to be taken care of.

Kumar says as the Minister for Local Government, these will be areas where she will need to put in systems and processes that works.

Kumar says she will not conduct an inquiry into the issues that have been highlighted in the report however it can be done when the new CEO’s of the municipalities take up office.