After the opening of the Christmas Bazaar, which consists of uniform wooden houses - stands, the municipality of Kolašin allowed the installation of a temporary glazed object - a promotional stand for the sale of electronic cigarettes - on the Soldiers' Square, right next to the edge of the city fountain.
The appearance, size and material of this building do not fit into the ambience of the Bazaar and its purpose is contrary to the competition in which the Municipality offered nine identical prefabricated wooden buildings for use at the end of November, which make up the traditional Christmas Bazaar.
As stated in the competition, the facilities are being rented out for use "for dispensing hot and cold beverages, serving food and local products, displaying souvenirs and handicrafts, and other similar activities that enrich the tourist offer." The aim of the bazaar, as stated in the competition, is to encourage economic development, tourism, and the affirmation of the cultural potential and tradition of Kolašin, with the support of activities such as the sale of local products, food, drinks, and souvenirs.
The competition also defines that, among other things, gambling activities, the sale of tobacco and alcohol (except wine, fruit brandies and beer), as well as immoral or illegal activities will not be supported.
The wooden houses at the Christmas Bazaar, in addition to being the same dimensions (250x160x298cm), are also decorated with New Year's decorations in the same way this year. That space, which is the center of events in the city during the winter season, is therefore now more attractive than in previous years, but with a richer offer, so the newly installed "stand" for the sale of electronic cigarettes stands out even more in that environment.
"Vijesti" asked the office of the Mayor and the Secretariat for Spatial Planning, Communal Affairs and Traffic several questions about the reasons for placing a facility for the sale of electronic cigarettes at the location of almost all winter music and entertainment events. Among the questions were those concerning the motives for placing a dark glazed facility next to the fountain and wooden houses, what is its primary purpose and specific function in the context of the Christmas Bazaar... Then, what act of the Municipality or other competent authority allowed its placement. Also, how, in the opinion of the authorities, the facility fits into the visual identity and thematic concept of the current Christmas Bazaar.
However, even after repeated questions, only one sentence came from the Secretariat in response.
"The facility that was placed next to the wooden houses of the Christmas Bazaar is temporary and will be removed after the bazaar ends," the Secretariat for Spatial Planning, Communal Affairs and Traffic responded.
The "Green Kolašin" Initiative commented on the unusual decision to set up a place to sell cigarettes in the middle of the Christmas Bazaar.
"Let's just see if we understand this correctly: in the midst of holiday decorations and ceremonies, in anticipation of the main part of the winter tourist season, in a tourist town that strives to present itself as an air spa and escape to nature, someone decided to give up the space in the middle of the main town square for this grotesque, prefabricated shop window for smokers? What is this for? How much money did the Municipality get for this, and did we have that money anywhere else to earn, in this very successful northern story of ours of growth, progress and general revival?" they wrote on social media from the "Green Kolašin" Initiative.
The opposition also had a comment about the building. From the Councillors' Club of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Social Democrats and Citizens, as part of the reaction to the way the Mayor of the Municipality Petko Bakić according to their amendments to the budget, they also wrote that the stand was set up instead of an ice rink. As the opposition claims, the executive branch "is waging a war over whether it is more important to set up a children's ice rink in the square to complete the season or a promotional stand for electronic cigarettes to meet the sponsors of the Montenegrin Ski Resort, which is also welcoming this season without artificial snow."
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