English

Lukashenka set to heal up construction sector

 

It is possible to heal up Belarus’ construction sector and make it serve the interests of the people, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told reporters Friday in Minsk while inspecting the construction site of a water park.

"Our construction sector is not just chronically ill," the Belarusian leader said. "We have a construction sector that should not exist in our country. So we will cure it. It will function in the interests of our people. As the president, I'm not going to tolerate constant complaints from people. I must respond to public opinion."

According to Mr. Lukashenka, nothing extraordinary is required of construction organizations. People just ask them to meet the requirements for the deadline, quality and price, he said.

"As for accusations of corruption against some officials – and they are not few – I must say that no country in the world has managed to completely safeguard a sector against corruption. Whatever some people in Russia, in the West, in America may claim, they have a long way to go to reach the level of anti-corruption drive that exists in Belarus,” Mr. Lukashenka said.

He noted that he had repeatedly warned that corrupt officials would be punished. "But the purpose is not to jail someone. The purpose is to heal up the entire system," he said.

"I think many people have already understood that we are not kidding," Mr. Lukashenka said.

About 80 corruption cases have lately been opened in the construction sector alone, he noted. "We will roll like a heavy tank, checking on everyone, from officials to designers and builders, and flatten this area so that people are not dissatisfied with us in any way," he stressed, adding that it was just the beginning.

"We will use punitive measures so that people do not complain," he said. // BelaPAN