The Minister Delegate in charge of relations with Parliament, Mustapha Baitas, questioned, Thursday January 9, the significant delay in the construction of the seawater desalination station in Casablanca. This project, initially planned to launch in 2016, remains unfinished, raising questions about the responsibilities and priorities of previous governments.
During a press conference held after the Governing Council, Mr. Baitas declared “that timely completion would have made it possible to redirect the considerable financial resources currently invested in the development of water highways towards priority sectors.” He bluntly criticized the inherited irregularities, insinuating indirect responsibilities of the Justice and Development Party (PJD, in power between 2012 and 2021), which he implicitly accused of mismanagement and administrative inertia.
Evoking those he describes as “people seeking to hide the truth as one tries to cover the sun with a sieve”, Mr. Baitas assured that light will soon be shed on the ins and outs of this delay, while affirming that the current steps respect the legal framework, despite the enormous grievances surrounding Aziz Akhannouch and his role in this project.
A tourism sector in full renaissance
In terms of tourism, the minister announced that Morocco has achieved, two years in advance, the objectives set for 2026. “In 2024, the Kingdom welcomed 17 million tourists, an increase of 3 million compared to 2023, representing an increase of 20%. This figure consolidates Morocco’s position as the leading tourist destination in Africa.he said. According to him, the results obtained confirm the effectiveness of the policies implemented and demonstrate collective mobilization in favor of economic recovery.
Housing, food supply: cautious optimism
Regarding housing, the minister, who did not mention the problems of the sector, stressed that the government has “exceeds” expectations for 2024. Nearly 94,000 units were supported, well beyond the initial objective of 75,000, an achievement rate of 125%. These results include 35,000 units receiving direct support and 59,000 under the social housing program.
Addressing the issue of foodstuffs, particularly red meat and other basic necessities, Mr. Baitas assured that the government “redoubles efforts to stabilize markets as the month of Ramadan approaches. Specialist committees are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and will publish regular reports to ensure transparency and ensure sufficient supplies.”
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