On June 14, the citizens of Moldova will vote the new local administration. IPN News Agency set the goal to determine how the local public authorities coped during the current term that is coming to an end. Experts, opinion leaders and representatives of civil society from different settlements will assess the activity of the local authorities of the country’s districts and municipalities. IPN series: Ocnita district.
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Ocnita district has 21 mayor’s offices for 33 settlements. The total population of the district is over 55,000.
Lilia Hropotinschii, executive director of the public association “Paradis” based in Ocnita town, said that this district is part of a pilot-program for managing financial resources and is restricted in spending money. It can spend only the money accumulated by itself from local taxes. Therefore, a number of mayors invoke the shortage of funds to explain the inability to deliver many of the made promises.
The expert said the political colors significantly influenced the state of affairs. Over the last four years, no investments have been made in the district and projects comparable with the previous period weren’t implemented. A part of the blame is borne by the local authorities that showed no interest in dealing with the local problems. Some of the mayors, who were more insistent, attracted very good social and infrastructure-related projects by cooperating with USAID, UNDP and other organizations. The mayors who attracted projects are both women and men of different political colors. This shows that when there is will, results can be achieved.
Speaking about the successful projects, Lilia Hropotinschii said the mayor of Hadarauti managed to renovate the local school and nursery school and built a home of culture. The mayor’s office of Mereseuca also repaired the nursery school. In Barnova, the local secondary school was renovated through the attracted projects. On the other hand, the mayor’s office of Corestauti expressed no interest in attracting projects for implementing them. A reason invoked by the authorities is that the people from the village didn’t want to contribute. Lilia Hropotinschii believes the population would have been motivated to contribute if they had had the example of the mayor.
As regards the Ocnita District Council, it wasn’t active at all and didn’t manage to attract a broad regional project. Lilia Hropotinschii said she does not understand how the councilors manage to find money for renovations at the district hospital, but do not have money for other projects. The opposition that represents pro-European parties does not have a say in the Council’s meetings and there are implemented projects that are of interest to one side only.
The expert said emphasis in Ocnita district should be laid on infrastructure. “I took part in a feasibility study concerning the reconstruction of a road section that would help develop the tourism potential. Projects to attract tourists should be implemented. Practically nothing is done for the young people from the district and we are losing them. There are buildings in the district, which could house business incubators and new jobs will be thus created,” she stated.
The executive director of “Paradis” considers that legislative amendments should be made to increase efficiency of the local public administration, while the public servants should understand that they must serve the people’s interests.
The expert estimated that the promises made by the contenders in the local election campaign four years ago were 10% fulfilled. She voiced hope that the people in the coming elections will vote based on candidates’ professionalism, not on the political factor, and will choose those who do things, not only make promises.
Mariana Galben, IPN
