Bassil likens electricity post to 'ball of fire'.Byline: Daily Star Staff Summary: Promises, promises and more promises. This is the impression observers might get when they hear Jebran Bassil, the new energy and water minister, saying that a political consensus is needed in the country to radically solve the chronic electricity problem in Lebanon Lebanon, country, Asia Lebanon (lĕb`ənən, –nŏn'), officially Republic of Lebanon, republic (2005 est. pop. 3,826,000), 4,015 sq mi (10,400 sq km), SW Asia. .Aa"I already Aatold ministers that a national consensus is needed for electricity," the minister said. BEIRUT Beirut (bār  t`), Arab. Bayrut, Fr. Beyrouth, city (1996 est. pop. 1,200,000), W Lebanon, capital of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Lebanon Mts. : Promises, promises and more promises. This is the
impression observers might get when they hear Jebran Bassil, the new
energy and water minister, saying that a political consensus is needed
in the country to radically solve the chronic electricity problem in
Lebanon.Aa"I already Aatold ministers that a national consensus is
needed for electricity," the minister said Thursday Thursday: see week. at a handover n. 1. The act of relinquishing property or authority etc. to another; as, the handover of occupied territory to the original posssessors; the handover of power from the military back to the civilian authorities s>. ceremony at the Energy Ministry. Outgoing Minister Alain Tabourian
handed over the rein of responsibilities to Bassil who described his
task as a "ball of fire."Aa
"Everybody avoids this ball of fire and no one wants to pick it up. I realize this task is enormous but I am confident that we can absorb this fire," Bassil said.Aa Since the Taif Accord, all successive governments presented plans to restructure the electricity sector but no one prevailed or even managed to reduce the high deficit.Aa Every energy minister trashed millions of dollars of plans that were submitted by the World Bank and other international groups under the pretext PRETEXT. The reasons assigned to justify an act, which have only the appearance of truth, and which are without foundation; or which if true are not the true reasons for such act. Vattel, liv. 3, c. 3, 32. that these schemes have many flaws.Aa The Finance Ministry projected the deficit of Electricite du Liban at the end of this year at $1.5 billion, nearly one third of total government revenues.Aa Bassil said that it is imperative to have 24 hours of electricity and 24 hours of water.Aa "We should have one electricity bill and one water bill But I realize that this is a long term project," the minister said.Aa Bassil was alluding to the widespread private generators and water canisters that are sold in different areas to make up for the lack of government utilities.Aa "I told the ministers in the first session that electricity and water should not be politicized," he said. -- The Daily Star Copyright 2009, The Daily Star. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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