VMRO-DPMNE: The water problem in Gostivar is the result of decades of neglect

VMRO-DPMNE accused the local authorities in Gostivar of long-term neglect which, according to the party, led to the current drinking water crisis. At a press conference spokesperson Valentin Manasievski said he has documents and laboratory analyses from the period when SDSM was in power, which, he claims, show deviations from the safety criteria.

Documents and analyses from 2020 to 2023

Manasievski presented reports and microbiological analyses from several years and particularly highlighted the finding from 11 November 2020. "On 11 November 2020 there is a report of a microbiological analysis which states that due to an increased number of coliform bacteria the water should not be used for drinking," he said, adding that similar analyses from 2021, 2022 and 2023 show that the water delivered to the Public Enterprise "Komunalec" Gostivar did not meet the requirements according to the regulations.

The spokesperson accused the authorities of not acting on the findings. "No action was taken and the poisoning of citizens continued, and they themselves did not know. These are documents that were sent to the Ministry of Health, and no one reacted," Manasievski added, stressing that water supply problems should have been resolved in time, not swept under the rug.

He directly accused the local coalition led by SDSM, DUI and Arben Taravari of decades of neglect. "What happened in Gostivar is the consequence of decades of neglect by the local authorities, and that authority is now led by SDSM, DUI and Taravari. Therefore accountability is needed," Manasievski said.

Regarding the criticisms coming from Venko Filipche, Manasievski emphasized: "Now Venko Filipche has a position on every topic and daily gives lectures on how the health system should function. But where was that same Filipche when for years he led the Ministry of Health, and SDSM was in power? Filipche criticizes every problem, but he was silent when he had an obligation to speak and to act. Here is the essential difference," and he concluded: "Therefore he has the least right to lecture on public health."

From SDSM, Maja Serafimovska Borozan said that the number of settlements where the water is not safe for drinking is increasing and criticized the representative bodies for their late reaction. "And the authorities again delayed in reacting. Although President Filipche already warned two weeks ago about the risk of jaundice, the authorities only yesterday issued recommendations for prevention and detection of symptoms. A report on the water in Gostivar, who approved it, signed it and who guarantees that the technical water is safe, has still not been published," she said and added that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and the Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski are giving opposing statements.

Serafimovska Borozan called Klekovski and Mickoski "tender-patriots" and assessed that precisely because of them more than 50 settlements in the country now do not have safe drinking water.

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE