Municipalities in Disarray: A Lack of Dynamism and Effective Governance
It's not evident, given the municipalities' lack of involvement. They're just town halls without any dynamism, or administrative structures that have failed to fulfill their intended purposes.
Neglect of Public Cleanliness
The cleanliness aspect, a crucial part of municipal action, is hardly a priority. Piles of household waste are accumulated in residential areas, resembling open-air landfills. Due to the lack of regular waste collection, urban spaces are often filled with debris and other waste. This has led to rampant pollution, harming the environment and human well-being. Only scavengers seem to benefit from this situation, finding a source of income and daily livelihood. These anarchic waste dumps are perceived as a thorn in the side of municipalities, which are unable to cope with the issue. Despite episodic cleanliness campaigns, the problem persists, and the efforts seem to have been in vain – a clear municipal failure.
Ineffective Local Governance
Our local officials struggle to manage their affairs and respond to the major concerns of citizens. Pollution is rampant, waste is everywhere, public lighting is often faulty, sidewalks are occupied, and roads and highways are in a state of disrepair. The situation is chaotic, and citizens are lost in this daily mess.
Additional Challenges
The proliferation of stray dogs, whose aggressive behavior threatens the safety of pedestrians, adds to the problems. Their barking at night disturbs the peace and quiet of residents, disrupting their sleep. The idea of culling them has not been implemented, and the situation remains unresolved. Many public interest projects, which should have been initiated, have been forgotten. Their studies, if they exist, are dragging on, becoming obsolete. A certain administrative and communication nonchalance is evident. Months ago, several municipalities abruptly removed waste containers without notice, leaving citizens without a place to dispose of their waste. This intemperate procedure has left citizens in a difficult situation, and the problem persists without alternative solutions being considered.
Will There Be New Municipal Elections?
Until then, our municipalities are mired in a crisis of management and good governance. The concept of proximity services has lost its meaning at the municipal level. Although we've heard a lot about it during municipal campaigns, with grand electoral promises, the reality is different. The municipal elections of May 2018 are still a bad memory. At the time, we believed we had turned the page and were embarking on a new municipal era, which would transform the face of our neighborhoods. Unfortunately, this remains a pipe dream, and all planned projects have been put on hold.
The Need for a New Communal Model
We've long dreamed of a new communal model, which would require a colossal budget to provide our cities with a better living environment. The idea is to organize municipal affairs and integrate them into the heart of local development. A Annual Investment Plan (PAI) is a prerequisite for any urban development initiative, a condition sine qua non for a successful mission. However, our elected councils have failed to fulfill their mandate, imploding and resigning in a short period. Their dissolution has reshuffled the cards and impacted the future of the city. Since then, nothing concrete has been done.
The Urgent Need for Change
In the face of these challenges, we wonder today if there will be new municipal elections soon, which should break with the current status quo and restore order in the municipality. It's essential to emphasize the importance of changing the mode of communal action to achieve local development objectives.
