Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin met with the staff of OJSC "Naftan"
According to the head of the region, the updating of the Basic Law is dictated by the times. "If we look back, we can see that we lived in the old frame of reference. Now many processes have changed, which means that the need to change the vector of development has matured. When adopting a new Constitution, we must remember that our children and grandchildren will live with it. At meetings with the asset of the region's enterprises, I often hear similar questions, we discuss them and take note. I can assure you that the voice of each of you is important and none will be lost. What is not included in the Constitution from citizens' proposals will be used for the development of industry documents," Alexander Subbotin noted at the beginning of the meeting.
Naftan employees expressed their opinions on various aspects of the new Constitution. Novopolotsk residents believe that mandatory voting in elections at various levels should be enshrined in the Basic Law, as is the case in the constitutions of European countries. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee emphasized that our country is democratic, and therefore everyone has the choice – to cast their vote for a presidential candidate, a deputy, or not. The meeting also touched upon a related issue – the possibility for prisoners to vote in elections. Alexander Subbotin noted that such issues have been raised more than once at dialogue platforms, and added that this point should be considered with specialists, as everything depends on the offense committed by a person.
One of the pressing issues for Naftan employees and city residents is the distribution of local and republican budgets. A representative of the enterprise's trade union proposed allocating more funds to local authorities for development and daily needs, as the consolidation and centralization of utility enterprises result in a shortage of funds for landscaping at the local level. The Governor emphasized that the optimization of such enterprises in the Vitebsk region was particularly large-scale, and therefore its results are felt in the regions. Similar problems are raised not only in Novopolotsk but also in other cities and districts of the Vitebsk region, however, state assistance alone is not enough to resolve them. "If we take a simple example of arranging courtyards, then residents themselves should show initiative and make a feasible contribution to the improvement of the places where they live. There are those who try to shift responsibilities to utility services and local authorities, and there are those who take part of the work upon themselves to live in cleanliness and order," said Alexander Subbotin.
Naftan employees were interested in the completion of repair work on the only bridge in Novopolotsk, which is currently under reconstruction, and the construction of a new one: it could significantly reduce traffic flow and alleviate the load on the existing one. The head of the region replied that the bridge reconstruction work would proceed according to plan, and the construction of a new one is envisaged in the modernization plan of the R1 highway. The head of the city, Dmitry Demidov, added that survey work is already underway for the construction of the new bridge, a project will be developed, but the timelines for the construction of the facility necessary for the city are not yet specified.
The improvement of the embankment and cycle paths for two-wheeled transport enthusiasts, as well as the expansion and repair of roads – all these issues were also discussed by the enterprise's employees with the regional and city authorities.
"BELTA"