Road conditions deteriorating

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