HIBAPRESS – Fikri Ouldali
The residents of the Tighermine neighborhood in Al Hoceima expressed their deep dissatisfaction due to the sudden halt of the renovation and repair works of a number of streets and alleys in the neighborhood, considering the step an unjustified setback from a long-awaited project to improve living conditions and break the isolation of the residents.
A number of residents explained, in identical statements, that the workshop, which was launched in response to repeated demands related to paving roads and repairing infrastructure, stopped without prior notice or official clarification, which left deteriorating conditions in the region, manifested in the rise of dust, the spread of potholes, and the complication of traffic, which increased the suffering of the residents instead of alleviating it. According to the locally circulated data, the decision to stop is attributed to disagreements within the municipal council, including what is related to the failure of some of the concerned residents to vote on the project, or the failure to consult a vice president during the launch of the deal. These are justifications that the activists of the neighborhood described as unconvincing, considering that the management of local affairs must be subject to the logic of the public interest, far from any political considerations or narrow calculations. The residents confirmed that the disruption of a vital project in this manner raises serious questions about the methodology of managing public projects and the extent to which the principle of the continuity of the public utility is respected, calling for good governance and ensuring transparency in the implementation of development programs. At the end of their statements, a number of those affected threatened to engage in peaceful protest forms in front of the community headquarters, to demand the resumption of work and the opening of an administrative investigation to determine the reasons for the stop and arrange responsibilities, and they also appealed to the regional authorities to intervene urgently to ensure the completion of the project as soon as possible, in order to preserve the right of the residents to benefit from an infrastructure that meets the standards of quality and dignity.
