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| Jumblatt slams Hariri for wasting
resources Chouf MP accuses premier of suspicious deals |
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| Prime minister receives
harsh criticism for allegedly mishandling mecanique issue and cellular phone sector Elie Hourani Daily Star staff Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt levelled a heavy attack Saturday on Premier Rafik Hariri’s administration, accusing it of wasting resources and engaging in suspicious deals. Speaking at a rally in Qobbei, a town in the Aley district, Jumblatt said two major reconciliations had been achieved in both Qobbei and Shweet, where there were massacres during the civil war and the Christian population was driven out. He added that the Hariri government had subcontracted the country’s mecanique duties to a Saudi company. The mecanique is the annual check that all vehicles must to undergo to ensure roadworthiness. “From now on, every motorist will have to pay $15 extra per year for the company checking the mecanique,” said Jumblatt. “This charge will go to a company whose name we do not yet know. Someone said the name of the agent for that company is Sultan bin Fahd, but I don’t know.” Jumblatt added that the company would eventually get a $15 to $20 cut from the annual mecanique payment. Jumblatt also slammed the way Hariri’s government was running the cell phone sector. “We have not yet sold the cellular phone sector. I hope to God we can sell it for $50 billion. I have no objection,” Jumblatt said, adding it was not understandable how the cellular sector would produce only $6 million in net gains per month. Jumblatt said there was much waste of resources. He also said the minister for the displaced was being asked to reduce compensation payments, “but while we are being asked to reduce $2,000 from the compensation payments, much more than that is being wasted,” he said. The reconciliations, both celebrated in Qobbei, were attended by several political and religious personalities, including the aforementioned minister, Abdullah Farhat. “This is an act of faith in the homeland and an opportunity for former neighbors to meet again and live next to one another,” Farhat said. He added that the period of civil peace required political stability and avoiding sectarian disputes. “This is a basic requirement of political stability in times as bad as the current situation,” Farhat said, adding that people were optimistic about the future. “Our meeting today illustrates the way we would like Lebanon to be, united,” he said. The reconciliation took place in Qobbei’s main square. Bishop Boulos Matar represented Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir. Economy Minister Marwan Hamade was also on hand to initiate the reconciliation. Other personalities present included MPs, a delegate representing army chief Michel Suleiman and the head of the National Bloc, Carlos Edde. After the Qobbei reconciliation, the crowd moved to the other town in the vicinity, Shweet, where Baabda MP Pierre Helou as well as other MPs were on hand to witness the reconciliation. Speaking to the crowd on hand, Jumblatt said that the reconciliation in Shweet was another step in the right direction toward bringing the situation in the mountains back to normal. |
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