I have been following the regions plan (مشروع الاقاليم) since its inception. Until this moment, I just can't come up with benefits that are concrete enough to rationalize the project. The government has been so vague in discussing the project that it allowed other players in the country to jump in and offer their own versions of reasoning and analysis that have elevated the subject to national level. The discussion, however, is of the uninformed, marred with persistent mistrust, and overwhelming variety.
I would very much like to give the government credit for actually doing things and being busy. But, it stops right there. I just can not help but think of this project as a way to keep people busy. Government employees or average Jordanians, both are trying to sort out the thought process bringing upon them this looming project, with no avail it seems. Being busy, I am afraid, Jordanian style.
In light of the government's understanding that the new American administration would apply more pressure onto political and civil rights progress, the government, I reckon, is trying to keep one front asleep. Just a few years after the "Jordan First" campaign, which had the goal of diverting Jordanians' attention form regional events, comes the Regions Plan to keep people in the sand box.
Come think of it, Jordan is tiny; it doesn't need further division to better manage it; it already suffers from a substantial amount of tribal and national origin discriminatory deeply rooted cultures; and Jordanians already vote "tribalistically."
sometimes I wish we could call for live "senate" hearings.
I would very much like to give the government credit for actually doing things and being busy. But, it stops right there. I just can not help but think of this project as a way to keep people busy. Government employees or average Jordanians, both are trying to sort out the thought process bringing upon them this looming project, with no avail it seems. Being busy, I am afraid, Jordanian style.
In light of the government's understanding that the new American administration would apply more pressure onto political and civil rights progress, the government, I reckon, is trying to keep one front asleep. Just a few years after the "Jordan First" campaign, which had the goal of diverting Jordanians' attention form regional events, comes the Regions Plan to keep people in the sand box.
"One of the project's main goals is to achieve sustainable, comprehensive development across the Kingdom and a fair distribution of services in all governorates within the same region," Qadi said.If you can't do that in a country with 6MM people and already 12 governorates, what makes you think it could be done with 3 regions?
Come think of it, Jordan is tiny; it doesn't need further division to better manage it; it already suffers from a substantial amount of tribal and national origin discriminatory deeply rooted cultures; and Jordanians already vote "tribalistically."
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3 comments:
Nice analysis! I still can not figure out why they really did that! As u said! Jordan is a tiny country! May be they are trying to find something to do over the next few years, but I think there are many other things to be fixed other than 'optimizing'! Just as u said!
Anyway, I just hope that this thing works for the good of Jordan! I am sick with meaningless projects! We in Jordan are trying to defy the natural rules! You can not sustain ur growth unless you build ur growth based on ur resources, our resources are limited, so should be our growth limited to our resources!
The sad truth. The country has so much potential for growth and sustainable development. But, there are forces stronger than the will of people that is satisfied with the status quo.
There are two sides to the argument. I am not convinced with the idea of "dividing" Jordan into three administrative regions as this increase the regional feelings and percpectives (Northern, southern, Balqawi vs. zarqawi, etc...". In addition, a development region should be based on natural resources so I cannot see Mafraq related to Jerash as it is much closer to Ma'an. The problem is that it is difficult to allocate financial resources to be managed in a decentralised system with 12 governorates. The idea here is to take out portions of money from the central government and send it to the regions for decentralised expenditures and planning. There are so many details that make the issue hard to implement and I personally prefere more empowerment for the existing 11 governoartes plus super Amman.
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