The Suva City Council is aiming to recover over $30 million in overdue rates by implementing effective profiling strategies and collaborating with landowners. Tevita Boseiwaqa, the acting CEO and chair of special administrators, announced that advertisements have already been released to encourage rate payments for the current fiscal year.
He explained that a 7 percent discount is available for timely payments, dropping to 4 percent after August. “We need to act quickly to take advantage of these discounts, potentially saving residents a significant amount,” he stated.
Boseiwaqa highlighted the Council’s strategy to tackle outstanding arrears, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with various entities. “We are cooperating with banks and other stakeholders, especially as landowners are primarily responsible for rate payments. We also need to work closely with the iTaukei Land Trust Board regarding native land, as well as the Ministry of Lands,” he added.
To enhance the value of the services provided, the Council is focused on improving its performance so that ratepayers feel their contributions are worthwhile. A dedicated team is in place to address these concerns.