On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency decided to depict the portrait of the current Republic of Moldova. For the purpose, it provoked a number of people, including state officials, politicians, businessmen, civil rights activists and persons without posts and titles, but who have what to say. The generic picture is called “Thoughts about and for Moldova”.
Tatiana Negrus, pensioner: Independence is a good and honorable thing, but it and the opportunities it brought haven’t been made use of.
Tatiana Negrus, 80, a former nurse and village councilor, struggled for Independence and hoped for a better life. She said that today we ascertain with regret that the politicians, when they come to power, no longer care about the people. These give priority to the personal interests and accumulate wealth by robbing the people. In such conditions, the state continues to take steps backward: the young people go abroad, leaving behind elderly and sick persons who will not live long yet. “What will our Moldova become without labor force? I think it will become a disaster. And who is to blame? Our administration. When the elections come, they promise a lot of things like workplaces, higher salaries and pensions, but do not deliver on their promises,” stated the woman.
She regrets that those who are in power add only several lei to the pension, consoling the pensioners in a way, but this money covers not even one third of the costs of bare essentials. “Everything is expensive. An envelope that earlier cost 0.40-0.45 lei now costs 1.75-2 lei, not speaking about transport and medical services for which we have to pay even if we have health policy,” said Tatiana Negrus.
Not only the pensioners cope with difficulty. The young people who remained in the country face a lot of difficulties. The lack of jobs is a painful problem for the whole population of Moldova. The young people have to go abroad to earn money for their families. In many cases, those who leave are good specialists who secure their living abroad and then take their families with them.
However, there are also positive things. Now that the borders were opened, the young people can go to study in Europe. The woman has relatives in Romania, Iasi and Barlad. Earlier she needed a visa to be able visit her relatives in Romania. Now things are easier.
Speaking about her profession, Tatiana Negrus said she is nostalgic for the period when she worked at the hospital. Then the people respected the health professionals more, but these, for their part, also stayed near the sick person until this became well. The medical personnel also performed activities outside their area of competence. They pickled cabbage so that the borsch served at the hospital was similar to that made at home. The pensioner said that today the medical system leaves much to be desired. Those who have money are treated better, but the people in need do not have suck luck.
Even if there are many difficulties in the Republic of Moldova, the woman is glad that she lives in a green country, with fertile soil and kindhearted, hospitable and hardworking people. She sincerely wants Bessarabia to reunite with the motherland Romania and to be a big and prosperous country. The young people will also have opportunities then and the Romanian language will be a master at home. The union can be a salvation for our country and the young people should struggle for this to happen, believes the pensioner.
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Tatiana Negruss, from Chetrosu village of Anenii Noi district, was born on March 8, 1936 in Izvoare village of the former county Soroca, which is now Floresti district. She had worked as a midwife during two years and as a senior nurse at the village hospital for 43 years. During seven years, she had served as a local councilor.
Elena Nistor, IPN
The articles of the series “Thoughts about and for Moldova” started to be published on July 18. Among the protagonists are: Dumitru Alaiba, Iurie Ciocan, Ana-Maria Tulea, Ion Manole,Olga Gagauz, Stella Ciobanu, Iurie Leanca, Victor Parlicov, Doru Curosu, Igor Meriacre, Valeria Seican, Ciprian Raetski, Andrei Nastase Ghenadie Galca, Arcadie Barbarosie,Valeriu Matei, Eugen Doga, Dumitru Postovan, Petru Macovei, Nicolae Botgros, Igor Dodon, Iulia Iabanji, Mariana Onceanu Hadarca, Maia Sandu, Aureliu Batranac, Viorel Cibotaru, Eugen Bendilic, Petru Bodarev, Sergiu Prodan, Gheorghe Erizanu etc. Nicolae Timofti, Andrian Candu, Pavel Filip, Marian Lupu, Vladimir Voronin, Mihai Ghimpu, Renato Usatyi, Valeriu Turea and others were contacted and these also accepted to give interviews.
