First Deputy Mayor Gideon Lyberth has been a committed municipal politician for several years, and therefore it annoys Mayor Malik Berthelsen that he chooses to withdraw from the collaboration in the municipal council.
- But I am surprised that he uses construction grants according to population as justification, since precisely that decision will ensure continuity in construction projects in smaller settlements in the municipality, says Mayor of Qeqqata Municipality Malik Berthelsen (S).
He also notes that the opposition parties have not mentioned that they will roll back the decision in their cooperation agreement that will apply for the next three years.
The municipal council has decided that the municipality will in future implement construction grants according to population during a meeting on February 26. The case statement states that Itilleq and Napasoq have not received any grants for this year.
Disagree with claim of tacit acceptance of depopulation
Gideon Lyberth has explained to Sermitsiaq that he believes the decision of the municipal council will mean that smaller settlements will be disadvantaged in terms of development opportunities.
The mayor strongly disagrees with this claim.
Until the approval of the proposed resolution, the municipality has distributed grants when a need arises. But with a principle of construction grants according to population, it will mean that settlements will have a reserve for future needs:
- With grants according to population, we will be able to ensure that these settlements will also receive funds for construction in the future, which will provide opportunities for development, says Malik Berthelsen and continues:
- A large part of the members who make up the opposition have also helped to approve the aforementioned decision. So it does not make sense to me that he chooses to use it as a justification for his announcement, he says.
Negotiations continue with all parties
With Gideon Lyberth's announcement, the majority from Malik Berthelsen and Siumut's collaboration with Inuit Ataqatigiit is tipped to the opposition parties Naleraq, Demokraatit and Atassut, as well as the independent.
Malik Berthelsen is not worried about the further work in the municipal council, however:
- We all have an interest in developing our municipality. The vast majority of resolution proposals are approved by all parties, and I expect that we will continue to work in that way. The most important thing for me is that our municipality is safe and that we take responsibility for our municipality's budget, says Malik Berthelsen.
He further explains that it will not be possible to be a member of the party if you choose not to cooperate with the party in the municipal council.
Gideon Lyberth has entered into a cooperation agreement with Naleraq, Demokraatit and Atassut in the municipal council.
