Jordan Times
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Gov’t committed to
supporting municipalities - Bakhit
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on Tuesday said the government is committed
to assisting the Kingdom’s municipalities in developing and upgrading their
institutional capabilities to better serve citizens.
The premier made the remarks at the opening of the Municipality Mayors and
Municipal Council Members General Conference 2007, where he stressed the
important role municipal services play in public life.
Highlighting the importance of the conference, Bakhit said municipalities have
become development units rather than public institutions, capable of shouldering
their responsibilities of local governance, pointing out that citizens’
relationship with municipalities begin the day they are born and evolve through
various stages of life.
The prime minister, who was deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah at the
opening ceremony, noted that municipal governance has been linked with the
creation of modern Jordan from the end of the 19th century, when the first
municipality was established.
“The government will continue to provide municipalities with the support and
experience needed to establish investment projects to become long-term financial
resources,” the premier pledged.
He urged participants to utilise the conference to establish developmental
projects with the private sector and the Cities and Villages Development Bank.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Nader Thuheirat said that cooperation is needed by
municipalities to reach a level that meets the King’s vision.
“It is a day where we meet to enforce our connections with average citizens and
to expand public services,” he said.
Thuheirat said past municipal elections were marked by high participation,
noting that 62 per cent of the two million registered voters cast their ballots
this year, compared to 780,000 in 2003.
He highlighted the increased participation of women noting the allocation of 20
per cent of municipal council seats for them.
“Women have proven their capability to take part in the Kingdom’s development,
with the election of 24 women in the last municipal elections in addition to the
211 seats allocated in the quota,” he added.
Thuheirat said for decades municipalities have exhausted resources in providing
services to citizens like healthcare, water, education and environment
preservation.
As a result, added the minister, municipalities have accumulated large debts.
This heavy burden requires the government’s support so these public institutions
can continue providing services, he stressed.
In addressing these challenges, Thuheirat pointed out that the ministry has
established development units in key municipalities and started a national
project to train municipal staff.
“Last year, around 860 municipal employees were trained at the ministry’s
expense, with another 1,600 expected to be trained this year,” the minister
said, adding that the ministry has sent around 140 municipal employees to
receive bachelors and masters degrees in strategic and developmental planning.
Greater Karak Municipality Mayor Ahmad Dmour addressed participants on behalf of
mayors and municipal council members, highlighting the municipalities’ general
demands, mainly focused on debt relief.
“We highly appreciate the Royal initiative to embrace this conference and look
forward to His Majesty’s initiatives to scrap municipality debts so we can
upgrade our level of services,” he added.
Other demands included exempting public service municipal vehicles from customs
duties, as well increasing municipalities’ shares of oil revenue.
Rana Hajaya, who was recently reelected mayor of Hassa, addressed the gathering
on behalf of women.
She asked the government to increase mayors’ salaries and to include them under
the umbrella of the social security system. In addition, Hajaya reiterated the
call for tax-exempted municipality cars.
During the opening ceremony, three agreements were signed between three
municipalities and the private sector.
The first agreement, signed between Sholeh Municipality and a local investor to
establish an olive press, is considered by many to be the first step of
partnership between municipalities and the private sector.
The second agreement was an agricultural investment project signed by Thiban
Municipality and the Jordan River Foundation, while the final was a memorandum
of understanding between Madaba Municipality and the Jordanian Hashemite Fund
for Human Development to administer and operate a heritage craft market on Mount
Nebo.
Today’s session will focus on local development, encouraging investment and
municipal governance.