CUSTODIAN of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has repeatedly underscored the importance of tracking down and punishing those responsible for the recent Jeddah floods. “We’ll not show any leniency to those who were negligent in carrying out their duties,” the king said while speaking to the Kuwaiti Al-Seyassah newspaper last month.
“The floods have shown us what we should do in the coming days to improve the infrastructure in Jeddah and other cities… the functioning of various departments after the budget announcement will be under my sight and supervision,” the king affirmed.
While unveiling the budget proposals for 2010 in a Council of Ministers meeting in December, the king stressed the need to implement all of the SR260 billion projects approved in the new budget.
The king also expressed his displeasure at the failure to implement several projects approved in last year’s budget. Projects worth SR125 billion were left unimplemented last year, according to a Ministry of Finance statement on the occasion of the budget presentation.
The royal statements and observations have made a deep impact on citizens. They are particularly relieved by the king’s determination to call to account officials, especially those who shoulder huge responsibilities such as undertaking the construction of infrastructure.
The Shoura Council and the Kingdom’s media have to undertake their separate roles in establishing principles of accountability and the general supervision of matters pertaining to the Kingdom. Other civilian organizations should also take their responsibilities to ensure the principles of accountability are always adhered to.
Provincial councils and chambers of commerce and industry in various cities should compliment the government’s efforts to strengthen the culture of accountability by undertaking their role of monitoring and calling to account officials in areas that come under their jurisdiction.
There is no doubt that such collective efforts will ensure that no huge calamity comparable to the flood that brought untold miseries to Jeddah in November will occur again.
