From: Eri News (er_news@dehai.org)
Date: Sat Dec 19 2009 - 14:55:34 EST
Asmara — The two-day meeting of the Eritrean Cabinet of Ministers at
the Denden Hall here in the capital concluded today adopting
significant resolutions and work directives.
The meeting held deliberations sector by sector on the 3-year Road-
Map President Isaias Afwerki presented as regards national
development program set for implementation beginning 2010 involving
economic, social, political and security domains.
In its morning session today, the Ministerial Cabinet conducted
extensive discussion on social services in general and health and
education, as well as ensuring social welfare and justice in
particular. It was disclosed that enough budget has been allocated
for not only expand education and health services in all parts of the
country but also upgrade their quality and vitality. The meeting
further took note of the progress made regarding the task of raising
the skill of the teaching staff and improving the quality of
education. It also held discussion on the action plan mapped out to
put in place an effective curriculum, besides organizing continuous
training programs with a view to upgrading the competence of teachers
and equipping schools with the required information technology.
Emphasizing that members of the National Service Program deserve top
priority for their dedicated endeavors over the years, the
Ministerial Cabinet once again asserted that lasting and reliable
reward would be extended to them. It further indicated that the
necessary support would be extended in different forms to teachers
and health professionals serving in remote areas so as to enable them
diligently fulfill their duties without having to bother about the
cost of living. Above all, the Government and the society at large
should give high respect to their contribution and noble profession,
the meeting underlined.
On the programs implemented and future action plans concerning the
task of ensuring social security, the Ministerial Cabinet stressed
the need for formulating viable strategy towards preserving and
reinforcing the long-cherished values of the Eritrean society as
regards demonstrating care and support to parents and needy
compatriots, instead of inculcating the unwanted culture of
dependence through disbursing substantial expenditure.
The meeting went on to conducted extensive deliberations on the
action plan connected with the administration of justice for 2010
focusing on declaring the extent of court authority, strengthening
the Office of Attorney General, introducing the law of evidence,
reinforcing community magistrates, streamlining administrative issues
and developing human resource. Stressing that the ultimate goal of
the administration of justice is that of ensuring equality and social
justice, as well as nurturing a civilized culture, it reached
understanding to enhance the existing noble culture and practices in
the Eritrean society in a manner that would make due contribution in
building modern institutions of the administration of justice.
Moreover, the Ministerial Cabinet meeting took note of the work
program charted for 2010 aimed at enabling the national media outlets
live up to regional and international standard both in terms of
competitiveness and content through strengthening the infrastructure
and technical competence of radio, television and newspapers, in
addition to expanding coverage and reinforcing websites as well as
deploying skilled manpower in this regard. Taking into account the
contribution and effectiveness of media and agitation activities in
providing impetus to the all-round national development drive and
portraying the nation's true image, the meeting decided that media
work should be reinforced in all aspects.
The meeting dismissed as baseless the distorted and unreliable so-
called growth index reports and figures presented by various agencies
which are designed to serve hidden agendas, and as such the people
and Government of Eritrea give no credit at all to these accounts. In
this respect, it asserted that the development programs under
implementation, the investment being made in education to develop the
requisite human resource capacity thereof and the introduction of
advanced technological equipments at substantial expenditure amply
demonstrate the visible development momentum in the country.
Furthermore, the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held
deliberations on the action program for 2010 presented by the
Ministry of Local Government along with the budget proposal. The
action plan mainly focuses on the projects towards achieving food
security, expansion of industrial and tourism agencies, provision of
potable water supply in both urban and rural areas, relocation of
nationals in fertile places and enhancing social services. The action
plan was accepted in principle, and President Isaias gave directives
that prior to approval, the programs should be sorted out sector by
sector through the concerned ministries. Relevant Links
* East Africa
* Eritrea
Speaking at the closing session, the President noted that in spite of
its low budget, the Defense Ministry has been extending subsidy to
other sectors in a spirit of dedication and utmost national
contribution. In this connection, he pointed out that the biggest
budget of the Government has been directed to development programs,
the implementation of which is a must on the basis of priorities.
In its deliberations regarding political, cultural and administration-
related issues, the meeting of the Ministerial Cabinet asserted that
concerted action would be taken to ensure the provision of effective
and efficient services on the part of Government institutions and
administrative bodies in a spirit of diligence and accountability.
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