The proposed decentralisation law encourages privatization, spoilage and reinforces existing confessional ghettos

Al Akhbar newspaper published on Friday a report on the draft decentralization proposal which has been released for reviews recently and which is presumably based on the stipulation of the Taef agreement which calls for the creation of smaller administrative units per caza where elected councils will be established and headed by Qaimaqam in an effort to preserve “local specificity” and diversity in the Lebanese social mosaic. Al Akhbar argues that the Taef agreement stipulated a number of reforms notably decentralization however, it also insisted on adopting a balanced cultural, social and economic development at the regional and local levels as a cornerstone of unity and stability of the state.  Yet, successive governments since the Taef agreement all focused on particular and biased sectoral and geographical economic policies and have neglected the setting up of adequate local infrastructure and services outside of the centre Beirut, and few other key poles.
The draft proposal suggests the creation of regional council entrusted by the central state with the responsibility of local development.  However, the report notes that based on real life experiences, this will surely exacerbates tensions and will strengthen confessional ghettos as well as reinforce the strongholds of current political and economic powers over “the constituencies” falling within their jurisdiction.  This of course is music to the ears of profiteers namely investors, real estate traders and banks.  The President of LCPS, Sami Atallah, and member of the special decentralization committee formed by former MP Negib Mikati and former president Michel Suleiman, noted that it is important to move towards implementing decentralization however he criticized the draft law especially since past experiences in dealing with the private sector were not promising. In addition, he added that the draft law preceded the endorsement of the still pending private-public partnership law and granted the “the private partner” some important legal waivers.  On the other hand, former Minister and head of the decentralization committee, Ziad Barud, noted that it will be indeed dangerous to strip municipalities from their resources and prerogatives while shifting these to another power. Nevertheless we reassured that there will be no interference with the present powers of the municipalities within their geographical domains, and that regional councils will have no authority over them. He added by saying that achieving decentralized development requires first and foremost the reform of the central state.
Within the same vein,. Expert Ibrahim Mehanna suggested that municipalities issue special bonds to finance projects same as the case of municipalities in the USA where the real estate assets owned by the municipalities act as a guarantee for their debts. However, researcher and former minister Charbel Na7has noted that copying the US experience in Lebanon will bring in disastrous results especially in view of the fact that the “place of residence” and “place of work” are not the same as the civil register.  Na7has added that within the present socio-economic system, municipalities are de facto cooperatives of real estate holders thus explaining the “creative” exercises in appropriating and apportioning municipality and public properties.
 
Source: Al-Akhbar 18 July 2014