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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Job creation and the provision of basic services are the public’s top concerns, according to voters who spoke to Rudaw about the performance of the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in its first 100 days.
Following a KRG report on its achievements to date, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani made a lengthy televised speech on Saturday detailing his government’s progress and restating the goal of fighting corruption, improving Erbil-Baghdad relations, and increasing domestic revenues.
Related: In first 100 days, KRG progresses in anti-corruption fight, reforms, mending relations with Baghdad: PM Barzani
Askander Mohammed, a civil servant in Erbil, thinks far more needs to be done to create jobs for young people and to diversify the economy to avoid a repeat of the recent financial crisis.
“The government has taken swift steps for [public] services including roads and the issuing of a set of regulations across government institutions,” Mohammed said on Wednesday.
However, the government “should diversify our national resources. If the KRG wants to avoid similar economic woes, this will be a great strategy”.
Related: Parties divided on KRG’s first 100 day track record
Aryan Adil, another government employee, also said job creation should top the government agenda.
“Job opportunities in the Kurdistan Region are still very poor, and we have not yet seen significant results from this cabinet to address this issue,” she complained.
“One hundred days is too early for a result,” she conceded, but “as a young person and a citizen, I would love to see the conditions of our youth improve.”
Shilan Sidiq, an activist in Halabja, told Rudaw: “Efforts to improve job prospects should be jumpstarted.”
“Projects still only on paper need to materialize, and plans they’ve laid out should be carried out,” she added.
Ahmed Ail, a Peshmerga soldier in Duhok, shares the view that “a lot more important work for this poor nation needs to be done.”
Some members of the public urged the government to prioritise the provision of basic services for the poorest in society.
“Many people can’t even afford to pay their rent, let alone pay for heating oil if the government doesn’t provide it for them,” Ali said.
“We don’t expect much from the government except tackling water, electricity, oil, kerosene and salary [issues]. This nation has suffered plenty,” Safar Chamani, another Peshmerga soldier in Duhok, added.
Video by Sarkawt Mohammed / Rudaw
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