Govt. Refers Waste Management File to Municipalities, Continues to Search for Landfill
The cabinet agreed on Thursday to refer the trash disposal file to municipalities during a “productive” session that witnessed the boycott of ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah, and their allies.
The government decided during the meeting that lasted over three hours to refer the waste management issue to municipalities that will agree to handle it.
Ministers after the meeting deemed it “productive”, while expressing hopes that the boycotting officials would return for future sessions.
Information Minister Ramzi Jreij said after the meeting that concerned waste collection companies have been ordered to collect the garbage that has been piling on the streets across the country.
The trash will be collected at landfills that will “soon” be properly equipped to contain them, he explained to reporters without indicating the location of these dumps.
Addressing the weekend's violence that erupted during civil society protests against the waste crisis and political deadlock in the country, Jreij emphasized the cabinet's keenness on freedom of expression and holding demonstrations.
“Investigations will continue to uncover protesters and security forces members who resorted to violence during the rallies,” he stressed.
The cabinet also approved dedicating funds to finance the salaries of public sector employees.
Following the session, Speaker Nabih Berri contacted Prime Minister Tammam Salam, urging him to take some time before calling a new cabinet session to “allow consultations to reach solutions that guarantee the attendance of all parties.”
A new session has not been scheduled yet.
Hizbullah, FPM and Tashnag ministers walked out on Tuesday of a cabinet session meant to discuss the worsening garbage crisis. They also received the backing of the Marada Movement whose minister had not attended the session for being abroad.
It was not clear however what compelled the FPM and Hizbullah to take the decision of boycott.
In a statement Tuesday, Hizbullah said the garbage crisis reflected the "endemic and accumulated corruption of the past two decades" and policies that only serve "personal and political interests at the expense of citizens." It said holding peaceful protests was a legitimate right.
The protesters say they are fed up with leaders they accuse of caring only about lining their own pockets and a system they say ensures incessant bickering and paralysis. They contend the entire trash crisis is about which politicians get the bigger cut from waste management contracts.
FPM chief MP Michel Aoun is scheduled to hold a press conference to address the latest developments, including the passing of decrees in the absence of the boycotting ministers.
Local dailies said that around 70 decrees, which had been passed without the signatures of the FPM and its allies, would be presented to them for signature under an initiative made by Berri.
The FPM has been claiming that the signature of only 18 ministers violated the cabinet's working mechanism in the absence of a president.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since May 2014.
G.K./M.T.
Y.R.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/188427 |