‘Kingdom moving ahead with decentralisation’

By Mohammad Ghazal

TAFILEH – His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed that the Kingdom is moving ahead with decentralisation, which will give citizens the opportunity to participate effectively in the decision-making process and in managing their own affairs.

Addressing over 500 community leaders in Tafileh during a visit to the governorate Tuesday, His Majesty said the government is implementing clear plans and projects to meet the needs of the governorate, located some 198 kilometres south of the capital with a population of about 83,000.

During the visit to Tafileh to check on the governorate’s needs in the fields of education, tourism, health and services, the King said he would follow up on the implementation of projects in the governorate to ensure that they immediately improve the living conditions for Tafileh residents, enhance services and infrastructure, and create jobs.

“Be assured that we will do all we can to improve the conditions in Tafileh and in all areas of the Kingdom,” King Abdullah said, stressing that residents of Tafileh will soon feel the impact of the projects on their living conditions.

The Monarch said a meeting would be held next week gathering Tafileh’s consultative council with government and Royal Court officials to follow up on needed development projects in the governorate.

During a lunch banquet, King Abdullah also discussed with Tafileh residents the needs and demands of the governorate and the projects it needs most.

Prime Minister Samir Rifai, emphasising that the government will implement the King’s directives regarding projects of priority in the governorate, said a total of 24 projects were being implemented in Tafileh this year at a total cost of JD17.8 million.

These projects are concentrated in the fields of education, infrastructure, roads and social development, he said, noting that implementation is proceeding according to schedule, with 40 per cent of the projects completed by the end of May.

The projects under way include the construction of schools in several areas in the governorate, water projects and the Wadi Sheidham Dam, which is expected to be completed by the end of October to enhance the agricultural sector.

Rifai said the government is committed to following up on the results of the meeting between His Majesty and Tafileh residents.

Reviewing achievements in the southern governorate over the past 10 years in different sectors, Tafileh Governor Salim Rawahneh underlined the need to build schools to replace the rented schools in several areas.

The governorate’s needs, he said, also include the establishment of a hospital as well as expanding sewage networks to reach several areas, in addition to improving several roads.

To boost tourism in the governorate, the governor called for executing a plan to attract investments to tourism areas in Afra, where hot springs are visited for therapeutic purposes, and Al Barbeita, and to develop Tafileh Castle.

jordantimes