Social Affairs Minister accuses predecessor of monopolizing renovation project
MP Nayla Mouawad’s press office on Friday issued a statement in response to comments made by new Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun during a talk show on Future News.
“Aoun’s confirmation that he did not mean to accuse MP Mouawad earlier this week was a correction to his approach since he first took charge of the ministry. But he made another fallacy by saying that the rehabilitation workshop of Bayt al-Mohtaref was consensual and without another bidder,” the statement read.
Mouawad said technical studies on the possibility of renovating the Bayt al-Mohtaref building were volunteered by two engineers, Raed Samir Abillama and Karim Chaaya. “There was also another bidder … We studied the offers according to article 146 of the Public Accounting Law in the presence of a specialized committee, which was formed on 13-6-2008, and we chose the best offer,” the statement added.
“Our aim was not to argue with minister Aoun. We call on him to be more precise, be sure of his sources, and explain to public opinion that the procedures were transparent. We are working hard to fulfill the reform process that MP Mouawad has already started, rather than engaging in wrong accusations,” the statement concluded.