Konaković and Mandić on privileged hotels and multi-million damage to the company Rad

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Speaker of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Elmedin Konaković, stated at today's press conference that after multi-million damages to the Cantonal Public Utility Company Rad were discovered, this case will be subject to investigation by the KS Prosecutor's Office, as he has immediately forwarded them the report and will exert pressure for the case to be resolved.

"There are privileged businessmen in this Canton whose garbage is collected at a special price. A group of workers from Rad sent me and Prime Minister Edin Forto this information. It concerns several entities and businessmen, while the workers of this company have low wages," stated Speaker Konaković.

He added that hotels that are currently "serviced", such as those in Ilidža, cause damage to the company Rad amounting to 350 thousand KM, because Hotel Ilidža is charged 885 KM, Hotel Hills 3,200 KM, and SCC receives a monthly invoice of 32 thousand KM. Therefore, Hotel Hills alone damages the company Rad by 200 thousand KM annually, and Hotel Terme by about 250 thousand KM," emphasizes Speaker Konaković.

"Serious and systemic corruption is happening in this company. This confirms our earlier announcements, and after Rad, we will do the same in Vodovod i kanalizacija (Water and Sewerage), which will soon get a new management," announced Speaker Konaković.

On the other hand, according to him, the workers in this company work in catastrophic conditions. The Minister of Communal Economy and Infrastructure of KS, Srđan Mandić, said that the situation in KJKP Rad must change.

"That is why we decided to organize this conference. We must improve the situation in this company, because it is owned by our citizens," said Minister Mandić.

He stated that speculations about the closure of certain parts of the company have appeared in the public, which he strongly denied.

"There will be no layoffs or closures of certain parts of the company, nor salary reductions. I have also promised the workers that we will increase their salaries. It is absurd that the prices of utility services were last adjusted in 1997 and were typed on a typewriter," said Minister Mandić.

He also emphasized that in most companies, people have forgotten their mission, which is that the KS Assembly is their owner.

"I previously said that I would advocate for transparency, because these are public companies and their owners are the citizens," said Minister Mandić.

The relevant ministry will, as announced, work on improving working conditions and services in the company Rad, increasing workers' salaries, as well as on procuring new equipment.