Road conditions deteriorating

A a resident of Ciputat, South Jakarta, I feel sad to see the deteriorating state of roads everywhere. We, the public, realize that in times like these, when money is scarce, there is no budget for repairs. We don't ask much but just make the best of it while doing our daily chores. However, something like basic maintenance of sweeping the streets, only requires a few tools and some manpower, which at this time of massive unemployment, should not be hard to find. I read some time ago in The Jakarta Post that Governor Sutiyoso, at a national parade for flood prevention, is satisfied with preparations conducted to anticipate floods in the city.

Keeping streets clean of debris, i.e. daily maintenance by sweeping and collecting waste (and perhaps use it for heightening dikes) could be very easily done by the local government and it would not cost much money. Young men with nothing to do would gladly do this "for a song and a meal" but, of course, it takes somebody to get such a scheme underway. Sadly no one seems to be in charge, especially not the local authorities.

One sometimes wonders why people, who still have jobs, continue to pay their taxes, which in turn pay for the salaries and benefits of seemingly ineffective officials, who are unable to provide even this basic service.

CONNY GAFAR

Ciputat, Jakarta