Atuagagdliutit - 25.09.1991, Page 18

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ATUAGAGDLIUTIT/GRØNLANDSPOSTEN
NR. 110 1991
18 districts
Greenland is separated into eighteen municipals.
Each one administrates its own social areas, culture,
and education. The homerules of the municipals own
apartment houses, the fire department, and also deci-
de how the structure of the city will be. The electricity
and water in the villages is also municipal matter.
In the past three or four years, many Greenlandic
municipals have had problems, because of a stagnent
economy, that has applied to the whole society. It has
meant that many of the municipal incomes have drop-
ped drastically, at the same time that the social expen-
ses have risen, because of, for example, unemploy-
ment.
The Supervisory committee is put together of three
parliamentary pohticians, and a member from Kanu-
koka, the national association of districts.
The Greenlandic municipals have one problem in common,
they need money! (Photo, Knud Josefsen).
Municipals in big trouble
The Supervisory committee tightens their hold on the municipal.
NUUK(KR) - The Super-
visory committee for the
Greenlandic municipals
had a meeting in August,
and now the report has
been shown. It is scary
reading about tight eco-
nomic conditions, with
firings, tax increases,
and more initiative from
the municipal bailiffs in
collection8. At the same
time the Supervisory
committee gave more
municipals permission
to accept cash credit
through the Greenlandic
money institutions, even
though it is during rough
times.
In the report, it is also sta-
ted that the Supervisory
committee places the fault
of the economic decrease on
the municipals for fading
tax incomes, and larger soci-
al expenses.
At the same time it is said
that the municipals haven’t
been efficient enough at
»cutting one’s coat, accor-
ding to one’s cloth,« and col-
lecting from those who owe.
The bad economy in the
Greenlandic municipals
caused the Supervisory
committee to ask the econo-
my directorate, and Kanu-
koka, to take the initiative
to solve the problems.
On the basis of rules that
are presently in operation, it
is impossible for die munici-
pals to receive a loan, so that
they can make changes.
It is the proposal of the
committee that these rules
be changed. The supervisory
committee wants to draw at-
tention to the faet that the
administration laws have
not been paying mueh atten-
tion to loantaking, that is
caused by the municipals’
current situation with the
homerule.
Seven municipals
The report from the super-
visory committee also speci-
fically deals with the econo-
mic situation of seven of the
municipals, which are Sisi-
miut, Nuuk, Uummannaq,
Paamiut, Qaqortoq, Ilulis-
sat, and Kangaatsiaq.
The general critisism of
these municipals is that
they are all veiy bad at run-
ning their economy.
The worst example is
Uummannaq, who receives
the following critique:
»There is a dim picture
drawn of this municipal’s
economic situation, and of
their administrative stan-
dards. Therefore, it is ob-
vious that this municipal is
incapable of handling their
money in a respectable man-
ner.«
The inspection of the mu-
nicipals’ economy has made
the Supervisory committee
plan to send more represen-
tatives to different munici-
pals.
Sisimiut will be payed a
visit...»as soon as possible,
to see that the municipal
authorities are making mo-
ves to reestablish a good eco-
nomic situation.«
Many municipals have re-
ceived direct commands as
to how to deal with savings,
tax increases, and service
decreases. Ilulissat has re-
ceived the following messa-
ge:
»The municipal is, in
1992, instructed to budget,
with a profit minimum of
eight million kroner, that
shall be provided by adjust-
ment of the municipal’s
working expenses, to the ac-
tual expected income basis.
If necessary by going
through with reductions in
the municipal’s working le-
vel.«
Competition with
the employees
In the report, it was also
pointed out that there has
been considerable difficulty
in the municipals in finding
qualified employees. The
homerule governed institu-
tions, and the public gover-
ned institutions have been
competing with the munici-
pals over qualified employe-
es.
In the report, it States
that this is of a decisive im-
portence for the economy to
be run in satisfactory way.
The industries must be run
by qualified, and motivated
workers.
The Supervisory commit-
tee proposes that the stan-
dards set for hiring be rai-
sed. This will be made possi-
ble by an organization for-
med together by representa-
tives from the Employee’s
council, Kanukoka, and the
Supervisory committee.
At the same time, the Su-
pervisory committee allo-
wed the empty places as eco-
nomy leader in Sisimiut,
and Nuuk, to be temporarily
filled by consulates on indi-
vidual contracts.
AG, September 18th, 1991
Better running of the
health department
Government health representative, Ove Rosing Olsen, believes that he will be
unpopular, when the health department is taken over by the homerule.
NUUK(LHR) - The go-
vemment health repre-
sentative, Ove Rosing Ol-
sen, is a doctor, and the-
refore is quite educated
about the area that he is
about to take over. He
has been a witness to
how the Danish State
has been running the he-
alth department in Gre-
enland, and as to how
Taking Over
From Denmark
The health department
is on the the last areas in
the homerule law, that is
still managed from Den-
mark. In spring, the par-
laiment dedded that
Greenland’s homerule
will take over the respon-
sibility for the health de-
partment, as of the first
of January, 1992. Parlai-
ment member Ove Ro-
sing Olsen is Green-
land’s health minister,
the person responsible
for the new homerule
area.
After the health de-
partment official beco-
mes the responsibility of
Greenland, it will only be
the police, and law sy-
stem that will be mana-
ged from Denmark.
they have spent money
that was meant for re-
pairs and improvements,
on management. This, he
believes, is a sign of poor
management.
»However, starting Janu-
ary first, there will be a cle-
arly defined and strong ad-
ministration. If not, I am af-
raid that, easily, too mueh
money will continue to be
spent on management. We
have seen this happen in
this system. That is not how
it should be.«
»But to achieve tighter
management, I believe that
it is necessary for the direc-
torates to take Control of the
entire department, salary
and hiring areas included.
So that it will not be split up
into separates directorates.
My meaning being that be-
fare we integrate it into the
homerule administration,
we have to have control over
it,« says Olsen.
Bigger demands
»When we take over the he-
alth department, I will put
higher standards for the tre-
atment of the patients, so
that they are completly sa-
tisfied. We don’t want peo-
ple to have to wait a long
time to be cared for.«
»But it has to also work
the other way around. The
population must realize that
there are limitations on
what the department can
handle. Today the health de-
partment is open 24 hours a
day, it will continue to do so
in serious cases, and I will
take special notice to pa-
rents who believe there is a
problem with their children.
But, on the other hånd, if
you have had a headache for
some days and want a pain
reliever for it, it should be
done during the day time.
Otherwise, it is simply too
expensive. You will also re-
ceive better care in the day
hours. There are more nur-
ses and doctors present, who
are better suited to help
you.«
Changes In
the hospital
At this time, plans are being
discussed for the hospital in
Nuuk. The topics of discus-
sion are such as, how big the
special service area should
be. And if the hospital
should have, for example,
eye, ear, nose, or throat spe-
cialists present.
There has been 70 to 80
million kr. set aside for
changes in the hospital.
They also mean to make a
closed department for psy-
chic disease. In 1992,84 mil-
lion kr. will be set aside for
other repairs and improve-
ment. In the following years
there after 52 million will be
set aside.
»Today we use approxi-
mately 80 million kr. ayear,
to care for about 1.000 pati-
ents in the state hospital in
Denmark. The 80 million kr.
could possibly be used in an-
other way. For example, to
employ six or seven special
doctors, that could travel on
the coast, and look at pati-
ents, so that they need not
be sent to Nuuk or Den-
mark.«
»My meaning is that the
health department should
not have any direct associa-
tion with the hospital’s ad-
ministration. The hospital
must have their own mana-
gement that is put together
by a doctor, a nurse, and one
from the ajdministration. It
has to be people that were
selected by the employees
themselves. And all the com-
mittees that are present in
the hospital must be cut
down,« says Ove Rosing Ol-
sen.
AG, August 26th, 1991
Ove Rosing Olsen: I don’t
think that I am going to be a
popular government official,
when the health depart-
ment is taken over by us.