The newly appointed president of the Ulcinj Municipal Assembly (SO). Ivana Popović (DPS) said that it will not hesitate to demand responsibility for anyone who made decisions to the detriment of citizens or wrongly managed projects important for the development of the city.
In an interview with "Vijesti", as the first woman in the history of parliamentarianism in Ulcinj to hold the position of president of the SO, she said that the new government will seriously consider possible initiatives to initiate a parliamentary investigation in connection with the poor implementation of projects, including the one for draining waste water for four Ulcinj settlements.
"We believe it is important to investigate the responsibility for poorly implemented projects and protect the interests of the citizens of Ulcinj. In cooperation with the competent authorities and institutions, we will consider the possibilities for launching appropriate investigations and taking adequate measures to prevent similar situations in the future. Of course, if someone made the wrong decisions or didn't manage the processes well, and the citizens suffered damage, we will definitely demand responsibility, because the citizens and their interests are our priority, and we received the mandate from the citizens to manage the city in the best possible way. way", said Popović.
She stated that her goal is to ensure transparency in the work of the Assembly, to promote cooperation among all political actors and to work on improving living conditions for all citizens of Ulcinj. He believes that his work will contribute to strengthening trust in institutions and improve the development of the municipality.
"As the first woman to hold the position of SO president, I feel a great responsibility and honor. This moment represents a significant step towards greater inclusiveness and representativeness in local government. The role of the President of the Assembly requires dedication, professionalism and work to improve the municipality", said Popović.
She highlighted improving the transparency of the work of the SO, improving communication with citizens and strengthening participation in decision-making as priorities in the coming period.
"I will especially focus on solving key issues such as infrastructure, education and healthcare. As a councilor and president of the Assembly, I will run for these issues and highlight them in particular. In order to recognize the needs of the citizens, I plan to open the doors of my office to the citizens once a week. This approach enables direct contact and effective resolution of the real problems and needs of our municipality", she stated.
She emphasized the very good cooperation with the President of the Municipality and other representatives of the executive power.
"Joint work and open communication contribute to making decisions in the best interest of our citizens. I believe that our partnership is key to achieving common goals and improving the quality of life in our community," said Popović.
She added that the Assembly will actively work and provide support for the establishment of a company that will manage the "Bajo Sekulić" Saltworks as soon as possible in order to start the redevelopment of that company from a standstill.
"We, as councilors of DPS, will try to speed up the adoption of necessary decisions and legal acts, in order to enable efficient management of the salt pan. Also, we will engage in monitoring the implementation of plans and projects related to the salt pan to ensure that the process takes place without interruption and in accordance with the set goals", she said.
She said that for almost three months she has been serving as the president of SO Ulcinj and "that this represents a great honor and satisfaction for her as the first woman in that position and thus a great responsibility, especially at a time when we are facing challenges at the central level of government".
As for the development of the city and infrastructure, she added, these are important issues that require coordination and planning between local authorities, investors and other relevant actors.
"Works on new hotels and infrastructure projects may be subject to various factors that may slow down or delay their commencement or completion. Improving road infrastructure can be a long-term process that requires planning, financing and coordination of all relevant actors. Introducing new projects or improving existing roads can contribute to reducing traffic congestion, but it requires time and resources," said Popović.
She reminded that during the tourist season the crowds are especially big.
"During the peak season, about 100.000 people stay in Ulcinj every day, which is almost five times more than the population of this city. It is important to emphasize this data because it indicates the load on the road infrastructure during the season and the urgent need for its improvement in order to improve traffic movement and safety, make life easier for the citizens of Ulcinj and ensure a quality stay for tourists," said Popović.
She stressed that after two years, DPS is again part of the government in Ulcinj, "not because of circumstances, but because politically active actors realized the need for an independent partner because we all work together for the interests of the citizens of Ulcinj".
"Our city is a gathering place for all of us, and we will pass every subsequent political exam in front of the citizens. "I have no doubts that the creators of the current government will justify the trust and that this broad platform will successfully continue the political course we have established," Popović assessed.
When asked if she has the undivided support of her party, she said "it is still a question for frivolous political subjects who are currently on the political scene throughout Montenegro and who appeared as a seasonal phenomenon". She stated that DPS is too serious a political subject for such issues.
Hotel construction announcements are part of political marketing
Popović also referred to the announcements of the previous government about the implementation of large and very significant projects for the city.
"Two years ago, the leadership of the Municipality, as well as certain political subjects who then made up the government at the state level, announced significant projects. At that time, there were also political subjects in the government of Ulcinj who are now part of our ruling coalition. At that time, we did not advertise in connection with those projects, and as the citizens of Ulcinj can see, none of the investments announced at that time have yet started. I would not like to bid on exactly which projects we are talking about, the citizens of Ulcinj know that best, the only thing that is evident is that those announcements were motivated by daily political needs", said Popović.
She announced that the citizens of Ulcinj will soon be informed in more detail through press releases about all these events, "in order to make it clear that these announcements were part of political marketing and not of genuine interest to the citizens".
Bonus video:
