Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Ba ex-mayor says Fiji municipal reform was expected

Posted at 01:46 on 02 February, 2009 UTC

The former mayor of Ba in Fjii says people were advised of the municipal council restructuring last October.

Praveen Bala says the interim government then granted a three-month extension to councillor contracts before the change on February the 1st.

He says on the advice of a review report on reforming local councils, the interim government decided CEOs and administrators had to be appointed in the interim.

“It will take some time for the review and reforms in regards to the municipal elections and we are urging government to have early elections so that there is the elected councillors in all municipal councils.”

Praveen Bala says he would welcome elections of councils sooner rather than later, as the next municipal elections are expected to take place in October.