From critic to responsible: – I can imagine that major challenges may arise

It is almost nine in the morning, as we have an appointment with the new naalakkersuisoq, and we are waiting in the reception of the Self-Government. Iddimanngiiu Bianco, whom we had expected to meet in her office, comes instead from the Inatsisartut meeting room.

– During Inatsisartut meetings, the IA meets every morning at eight, so I have just finished, says Iddimanngiiu Bianco when she comes in.

The day we meet her, she has been naalakkersuisoq for ten days. During that time, she has already made two press releases and been on the podium during Inatsisartut meetings on matters within her area. The first ten days have been busy from morning to night.

– I have received a lot of information, perhaps even too much. I am trying to familiarize myself with many things that need to be coordinated. But the civil servants are skilled and have experience with a new naalakkersuisoq, says Iddimanngiiu.

Can she solve what she has criticized?

It is clear where Iddimanngiiu Bianco comes from, just by hearing her name. She is from Tasiilaq and has previously criticized the conditions in the area, including transport.

After being critical, she has now become naalakkersuisoq herself with the highest responsibility. Therefore, she can now work with the same points of criticism as naalakkersuisoq for infrastructure.

The transport structure in East Greenland, like other service contracts, is valid from 2020 to 2030 and is therefore difficult to change.

You have criticized it, but it is difficult to change before 2030. Can you do something anyway?

– I always believe that there is room for improvement. I especially want close cooperation with Air Greenland and Greenland Airports. Through cooperation, solutions may be found, for example, to the problem I saw in the news with the accumulation of cargo in Nerlerit Inaat. Here we can act by increasing the number of flights from Akureyri to Nerlerit Inaat, Iddimanngiiu Bianco answers and continues:

– There may be different things that can be done already now, without changing the service contract. These are the ones that I can work on while the contract still looks the way it does now.

Can understand people in remote districts

Iddimanngiiu Bianco, who grew up in Tasiilaq, knows the life and everyday life in the remote districts.

– I know that it can be very challenging to get the authorities to talk when you live in remote areas. We know the daily problems and the obstacles associated with the conditions. Therefore, I personally know how difficult it can be to be heard, she says.

The challenges in remote areas have been known for a long time, but they are not always easy to solve. Even though the conditions of the citizens are known and understood, the new naalakkersuisoq knows that some tasks cannot be solved immediately.

– I can imagine that there may be bureaucratic obstacles, or that some projects will not come to fruition due to the current framework and procedures. Therefore, I can imagine that it will be a great challenge to solve the problems that I have previously criticized. Nevertheless, I see my knowledge of the situation as a strength, says Iddimanngiiu Bianco.

If elections are not called prematurely and the coalition continues, there will be elections in three years at the latest. What would you like to have achieved by then?

– That those who live in the outer districts are heard. I hope that in some way I have contributed to improvements in housing and transport. Even though it may be difficult right now with some specific things, I hope that I have helped create something that is significantly better, concludes naalakkersuisoq.