Our government is moving ahead with the implementation of major projects, allocating huge budgets for them. These budgets are often larger than those for similar projects in other countries. The government does this with a belief in the importance of offering high-quality services with good returns to the country and its people. There are many examples for such projects in all sectors.
But a number of these projects are suspended or cancelled suddenly and some others do not come up to our expectations, while yet others belie the initial optimism that accompanies their construction because of technical and operating problems that appear in later stages. Some projects are cancelled or suspended for failing to meet safety requirements or violating terms of the contract. Sometimes the projects are not completed within the given time frame and the companies responsible for their implementation give excuses that convince nobody, disregarding the huge budgets allocated to them – amounting to billions of riyals – and the long period allowed for construction, apart from the huge effort put into implementing these projects.
This has become a common phenomenon with projects in our country. Citizens with national zeal are eager to see these projects completed. They are patient as far as the mistakes and laxity of construction companies and supervision committees are concerned. They know that they are being patient at the cost of their health and precious time.
Why should this keep happening despite statements and assurances given by senior government officials in conferences about quick completion of projects according to the best standards?
This makes it necessary for us to talk about the reasons for this phenomenon, which can be stated as follows:
• Lack of a clear policy and proper planning for projects.
• Setting unrealistic goals that do not match the nature of the projects.
• Continuous administrative changes that result in cancellation or postponement of projects. Such changes lead to change in plans for projects, with the new bosses keen to show that they are making a difference.
• Assigning unqualified persons to lead supervisory committees.
• Lack of coordination and follow-up on the ground by the ministries and institutions concerned, and centralization and attempts to monopolise decision-making without regard to national interests.
• Use of membership of supervisory committees for financial gain and personal profit; and the fact that some people are members of more than one committee, which often results in waste of time and slows down the implementation of projects.
• Lack of the desire to accomplish projects or improve performance, as meetings are often held according to the wish of senior officials and not necessity.
• Failure to adhere to the terms stated in the contract, and the fact that favouritism and personal interests reign supreme, with no regard to national interests.
All this makes it necessary for us to find solutions to this problem. We need to bring to account people responsible for the failure of the projects, their postponement or cancellation. This must be done with objectivity and honesty.
I fully agree with my colleague Jaber Al Harami, Chief Editor of Al Sharq, who wrote in a recent article about the need for transparency and accountability for those who caused the delay in the opening of the new airport, to prevent this happening with other projects.
So, will the conscience of the people concerned be awakened, and will they correct their mistakes and own up responsibility before they are held to account by Allah?
