Cabinet Approves Decrees Linked to Civil Defense Directorate

The cabinet adopted on Wednesday decrees on determining the conditions for the appointments of the head and members of the Civil Defense Directorate.

The decrees will pave the way for the Interior Minister to hold an exam that will lead to the potential employment of the workers, explained Information Minister Ramzi Jreij after the cabinet meeting that was held at the Grand Serail.

The employment of volunteers will be addressed during later sessions, said Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil presented at the cabinet a detailed report on the financial situation in Lebanon, while emphasizing the need for the adoption of a state budget,

He warned of the rise in expenditures and its threat to the public deficit.

“Ministers therefore stressed the need to approve a budget, adopt sound spending, and combat corruption,” said Jreij.

A new cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday.

The government did not however tackle the contentious issue of hiking taxes on gasoline.

Now that twenty liters of gasoline is selling at about LL20,000 as a result of a global slide in oil prices, some officials are mulling to slap a new tax, around LL5,000, to fund the employment of the Civil Defense volunteers.

The $20 million needed to make the Civil Defense volunteers full-timers does not require a tax hike, ministers said according to media reports.

M.T.

G.K./D.A.