Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar says the Chief Executive Officers of Municipal Councils are appointed based on merit while National Federation Party MP, Lenora Qereqeretabua says they have received concerns about the conduct of some of the CEOs and this may or may not have a basis but there is certainly no smoke without fire.
While speaking on the motion to debate the Review on the Audit Report of the Municipal Councils for 2014–2017, Kumar says the Municipal Councils human resource policies are now aligned with the Civil Service Open Merit Recruitment System which ensures consistency in areas of recruitment, training and performance.
She says CEOs used to be appointed because they were with the Council for 20 or 30 years and they did not have the financial acumen but now the CEOs are appointed on merit and have financial qualifications.
The Minister adds there was a history of corruption at Municipal Councils even when officials were elected where under the leadership of these elected officials, the councils had to be dissolved 6 times.
Kumar has also highlighted that a recommendation in the report calls for the restructure of all Municipal Councils so that it operates as a corporate body.
She says Members of Parliament will support this recommendation but will be the first ones to complain if Municipal Councils increases fees and charges.
Meanwhile, Qereqeretabua says she wonders if the Ministry of Local Government is practicing the Open Merit Recruitment System when appointing the CEOs of towns and city councils and perhaps the Minister will appraise the parliament on qualifications and credentials of the CEOs to justify that their appointments were made on merit.
She adds it is important that the Government puts power back in the hands of the people in the towns and the cities and the ratepayers and citizens should determine through their elected representatives how their rates are used.
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