Minister for Local Government and Housing Maciu Nalumisa has signalled a policy shift and placed fresh emphasis on public responsibility for waste disposal as part of efforts to tackle widespread drainage blockages in towns and cities across Fiji. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Market Inspiring Women Cooperative at the Suva Municipal Market carpark on Thursday morning, Mr Nalumisa said cleanliness in urban areas is a collective duty and that households and commuters must change how they dispose of rubbish to ease pressure on drainage systems.
“We need to look at how we look after our municipalities, this is our civic responsibilities,” Mr Nalumisa told those gathered. He blamed improper rubbish disposal by residents and passers-by for contributing to clogged drains, saying municipal councils are often left to respond only after blockages occur. “It’s not only the responsibility of municipal council, but we also all have a role to play,” he said, urging greater public awareness and action.
The minister also revealed a concrete administrative change aimed at reducing future drainage problems: the maintenance of drains and footpaths will be reverted back to municipalities in the near future. Officials have not yet set out a detailed timetable or funding plan for the transition, but Mr Nalumisa framed the move as part of a broader push for “improved systems and shared accountability” to address drainage challenges nationwide.
The announcement at the Suva Municipal Market — a busy urban node where waste and runoff can quickly affect surrounding streets and stormwater infrastructure — connects a civic message with an on-the-ground development initiative. The Suva Market Inspiring Women Cooperative project itself, for which the ceremony marked the start of construction, highlights the city’s ongoing efforts to support market vendors while also confronting urban management issues that include sanitation and drainage.
Reverting maintenance responsibilities to municipal councils marks a notable shift in administrative practice. While Mr Nalumisa did not outline how budgets, staffing or contract arrangements will be realigned to accommodate the change, his comments suggest the government intends to restore local-level control over routine upkeep of drains and pedestrian infrastructure as part of a strategy emphasizing local accountability.
Experts and council officials will be watching for details on how the reversion will be implemented, including whether additional resources or legislative changes will accompany the shift. Municipalities have in the past pointed to resource constraints when responding to recurring blockages, and success will depend on both improved council capacity and the behavioural changes the minister advocates among residents and commuters.
For now, Mr Nalumisa’s remarks place waste management and civic responsibility at the centre of the government’s approach to urban drainage — and set expectations that municipal councils will soon resume hands-on maintenance of drains and footpaths as part of nationwide efforts to prevent future flooding and infrastructure damage.
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