MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) – Plans to reform the Emergencies Ministry are discussed at a government meeting hosted by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 7 February, BelTA informs.
“Earlier, we agreed (I think it was last year) that the vertical structure of the Emergencies Ministry should be reformed, or I would say, improved, like any other structure. There is nothing new in this regard. We simply cannot stop. Life is going on. Back then I instructed the government and the State Secretariat to study the minister's proposals. Thus, our today's narrow-format meeting will review the outcomes of this study,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko deems it necessary to bring in meaningful reforms to the ministry. “It should not be about minor personnel reshuffle. We agreed to set up an interdepartmental group. Where are we now on this front?”
The participants of the meetings discussed plans to arm some employees of the Emergencies Ministry so that they will be able to reinforce the army in the event of a conflict or hostilities.
“The reformation should be based on common sense. It should not be about removing some functions and making the ministry hamstrung, unable to fulfill its mission. We should scrap those responsibilities that have become obsolete and unnecessary. Thus, the public will no longer complain of the ministry's excessive fire prevention activities that do not help reduce the number of fires. This pertains to other activities, too,” the head of state warned.
The president urged to study the effectiveness of the entire modernization effort. “A number of instructions and tasks were voiced during the appointment. What has been done to fulfill these instructions of mine?,” the president asked. Addressing Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky, the president inquired: “Have you been able to find your feet in your new role? Were you accepted by the employees? Is there any jealously, offense or dissatisfaction about assigning this role to a person, albeit experienced, smart and strong-willed, who comes from another structure [before being appointed the emergencies minister, Vadim Sinyavsky was in charge of the police of Grodno Oblast]. I think it is a good experience. If things work out fine for us, we will keep doing it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
According to Vadim Sinyavsky, following the instructions of the president, measures were taken to reform the Emergencies Ministry in 2021. “The new staff list of the Emergencies Ministry central office was approved. A number of organizational and HR steps were taken. Unscheduled certification of employees was carried out. To be honest, we have removed some of the people,” the minister said.
“Those who cannot work there should not work there,” the president remarked.
“That's right,” the minister replied.
