Fees galore

Fees galore

From Tiras

Some time ago, like all other residents, I received a circular from the Menteng Dalam village chief's office concerning fees for public sanitation. The circular was also signed by the Kecamatan Tebet district chief. The announcement said that payment of the fee, which would be enforced as of April 1, 1996, shall be coupled with the payment of one's electricity bill.

The fee is at least Rp 1,000 per month. The problem is that the amount differs from one place to another. At the number seven Inkaso (paying post) the fee is fixed at Rp 1,000, while at number eight post the fee is Rp 2,000. Why this difference? What is more surprising is that at the third Inkaso (number 37) no sanitation fee is collected. Instead, payers have to make a donation for the approaching National Games.

Apart from the fee, residents have still to pay monthly fees for garbage collection and security; the amount involved ranges from Rp 1,500 to Rp 3,500 per household.

The differing fees confuse the community. When asked about the matter, the collection official replied: "I don't know, I am only doing as I'm told." I think this is a typical answer of a man with great authority, as if he were saying: "Just pay, and no comment!" This deprives the people of their right to have access to correct information. As far as I am concerned, what matters is transparency and legality, and not the money.

SALEH ABDULLAH

Jakarta