The Government of Montenegro needs to urgently stop the practice of discussing the most significant laws in the country behind closed doors, but the latest act of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (MORT) is certainly not adding to this.
Yesterday’s public discussion on the Draft Law on Planning and Construction, which was not even open to the press, is something that was not even practiced during the Minister Branimir Gvozdenovic, who at least knew how to feign openness and willingness to cooperate.
The Minister Pavle Radulovic first foisted the law that was done behind closed doors, arguing that it had already been publicly discussed, and now he is trying to make a new discussion entirely pointless and limit the public participation. It is really hard to figure out what the Minister Radulovic’s motive to close to the media the round table organized in the Chamber of Commerce was.
Provisions given in the new law have significantly stirred up the public and it is clear that there is a tremendous need to discuss them on the widest possible discussion. This is supported by the reactions rightfully disgruntled local government representatives, who will be taken away the right to make independent decisions and govern municipal areas, thereby contributing to their own development.
We want to believe that the MORT, at least formally, shares the view that spatial planning is not the exclusive right of a small circle of people in power and related criminals, nor that the public interest must be subordinated to private profit and interest. We also hope that the ministry will recognize what kind of consequences for the situation in the area may have the adoption of the law in this form, and that the full participation of the public is necessary in order to reach the best provisions.
As an organization that has years of experience in the analysis of the problems in urban planning, MANS expects the MORT to abandon the practice of organizing discussions behind closed doors and to organize an event which will host all stakeholders and ultimately contribute to a more functional protection of the public interest.
MANS
