Regional Executive Committee Meeting: Issues with the Traffic Police, Housing and Communal Services, and Medical Workers Top the List of Resident Appeals in the Vitebsk Region
In 2019, the regional executive committee and local government bodies in the regions received 37.6 thousand appeals. This is about 1 thousand less than in 2018. Citizens most often appealed to the internal affairs department, mainly regarding the traffic police (an increase in letters of 5.7%), the main departments of housing and communal services, healthcare, committees for labor, employment and social protection, as well as architecture and construction. "The issues are mainly related to housing construction, development of the historical part of Vitebsk and the center of Polotsk. Complaints from people in the transport sector have increased, which was related to the closure of the overpass in Vitebsk and the bridge in Polotsk, and the optimization of the route network. There were issues related to violations of public transport movement," said Ilona Shulga.
People wrote to the State Automobile Inspectorate about the quality of roads, street lighting, installation of road signs and traffic lights, and also raised issues of parking violations and the arrangement of additional pedestrian crossings.
Mikhail Grib, Head of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, said that the issues received were mainly practical and relevant. "For example, a taxi driver hit a boy at a pedestrian crossing in Vitebsk. We read the parents' comments that it is necessary to react from a technical point of view: to improve street lighting and limit the speed limit," he explained.
The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, noted that the issue of the traffic police is sensitive and it makes sense to discuss it in more detail.
Last year, an increase in appeals regarding healthcare was also recorded. Citizens sought solutions to specific problems. Issues related to the maintenance of houses and roads, the provision of utility services, and the improvement of settlements remain traditional.
Most often, residents of Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, Liozno, Sennno, Dubrovno districts and Vitebsk applied to the regional executive committee.
Kristina Pobol, First Deputy Head of the Main Department for Work with Citizens' and Legal Entities' Appeals of the Presidential Administration of Belarus, noted that people want justice and react to the indifference of local authorities by appealing to higher authorities. Last year, 2330 appeals were received by the Administration from the Vitebsk region (an increase of 1%). "This is a good indicator, it is the lowest in the country compared to other regions. Orsha and Polotsk districts are in the lead," she noted.
Nevertheless, Kristina Pobol drew attention to the fact that every fourth appeal to the Administration from the northern region was a repeat one. The reason for this is that complaints are considered formally at the local level, without delving into the essence and without trying to find solutions. Among the examples are two cases from Miory district. At one time, there was a collective appeal from the workers of PMK-55 from Miory, who were concerned about the closure of the organization. Despite the letter from the people, no one met with them, and they were not told about the prospects of the enterprise's work. Two months later, they appealed to the Presidential Administration again.
Kristina Pobol, addressing the chairmen of the executive committees, emphasized that it is necessary to talk with the population, and residents should participate in the implementation of projects that affect their daily lives.