Reality and prospects for development in Sidi Bouzid

The Forum on the "Reality and Prospects for Development in the Governorate of Sidi Bouzid" closed on Saturday in Sidi Bouzid. Organised by the Sidi Bouzid Foundation for Regional Development, the forum was held in commemoration of the first anniversary of the outbreak of the popular Revolution in Tunisia. The closing session took place in the presence of President Moncef Marzouki, Speaker of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar and Prime Minister in the new Interim Government Hamadi Jebali. President Marzouki said, in his address, that the new political regime in Tunisia is based on transparency and fidelity and respect to the people to serve the population of Sidi Bouzid and all Tunisians. He pointed out that the Tunisian people will "perform miracles" because they like construction and are ready to make greatest sacrifices to this effect. Mr. Marzouki underlined that the revolution has changed the course of history and granted the Tunisian people a State representing and serving them, placing emphasis on the damage and disparities caused by previous policies. The President of the Republic also pledged to "combat and end the legacy of the former regime that will require huge efforts and much time." He, however, showed optimism for the future of Tunisia and the region of Sidi Bouzid, in particular, and expressed conviction that development will be back in this region. He said that the sufferings endured by this region for decades are the result of the lack of political will in the past, underlining that there is today " a will to promote the region and build a better future." Mr. Mustapha Ben Jaafar pointed out that the recommendations issued by the Forum should involve all underprivileged regions, in order to replicate the model to be adopted in Sidi Bouzid in the other regions, highlighting the importance of ensuring security, since "there could be no investment without security." He hailed, on the occasion, the interior security forces and the Army for the efforts they exert in guaranteeing the democratic transition. Besides, the NCA speaker emphasized the need to "end all sit-ins." "It is imperative to give the new government a chance to show positive signs on the implementation of its programme," he continued, specifying that employment and ensuring the attributes of development are among the new government's top priorities. Mr. Ben Jaafar asserted that "the people's representatives will remain faithful to the Revolution objectives and will endeavour to preserve Tunisia's gains in the Constitution they are entrusted with drafting, in order to mirror moderation and the golden mean of Tunisians, who are deeply-rooted in their Arab-Moslem identity, and their openness on universal values." Note: The Forum, whose closing session was attended by the President of the Republic, the National Constituent Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister, Ennahdha Movement Chairman Rached Ghannouchi, several NCA members and Tunisian and foreign experts and businessmen, culminated with a set of recommendations. The most important proposals submitted were: the creation of economic and development projects in the Sidi Bouzid region, sorting out the real estate problems to fit out an industrial zone and open it up, by constructing a highway linking it to the country's other regions and extending the railway network to join it up to the governorate's northern regions, in addition to the development of the agricultural sector and building a museum to immortalise the Revolution.