Gov’t will respond to citizens’ demands without procrastination, delay — Sarayreh

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Jamal Sarayreh on Thursday stressed the importance of citizens’ participation in the decision making process, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Heading a ministerial team that visited Mafraq and met with officials and civil society representatives, Sarayreh stressed the government’s keenness on listening to citizens’ concerns and demands and on following up on issues related to service provision.

Sarayrah said that the government will respond to the demands without procrastination or delay and implement the service and development projects of Mafraq, 80km northeast of Amman, according to Petra.

He also noted that the government is following a “transformative approach” to deliver the demanded services in a way that people can see on the ground.

Responding to the demands, Minister of Municipal Affairs Walid Masri said that the ministry will develop Hssenyiat Landfill into an environmental one, noting that the Akeider Landfill has been rehabilitated at a total cost of $40 million.

Municipalities within the borders of Mafraq governorate will be supplied with 450,000 energy-efficient bulbs, Masri added.

Education Minister Omar Razzaz said that the ministry has built a number of schools in the northeastern city of Mafraq and has added classroom to already existing ones all at a total cost of JD6.5  million, Petra said.

Water Minister Ali Ghezawi said that the ministry’s water projects 2016-2019 in the governorate cost JD40 million.

Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab said that Mafraq has six hospitals with a capacity of 491 beds, in addition to 91 healthcare centres. Sheyyab said that Mafraq’s hospitals suffer from a shortage in the number of specialist doctors which led to purchasing services of private-sector doctors.

Public Works and Housing Minister Sami Halasa outlined some projects that the ministry is currently implementing in Mafraq, including opening and reconstruction of roads.

He said that the ministry will float tenders to build nine schools and six healthcare centres.

For Social Development Minister Hala Lattouf, she called for creating a coalition for the governorate’s charity societies, noting that the ministry is working on finding jobs for beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund.

State Minister for Investment Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh said there are 21 investment projects in Mafraq valding JD11 million, of which 17 are of industrial nature.