Tahiti, December 3, 2024 – Cesec issued a mixed favorable opinion this Tuesday morning on the master plan for the country’s social and medico-social action for the next five years. In question, the emergency procedure used once again by the government on a particularly dense file. As a result, questions about the timetable and the human and financial resources necessary for the success of this plan, as well as its “feasibility” within the allotted deadlines, remain unanswered.
Could do better. This is in essence the assessment of the members of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (Cesec) on the copy of the Minister of Solidarity, Chantal Galenon, concerning her social action policy. The debates were quite brief this Tuesday morning at Cesec, asked to give its opinion on the master plan for social and medico-social action in the Country for the next five years. If the representatives of civil society agree on the content of this document which nevertheless deserved to be explored in more depth, they especially regretted the method used. This is not the first time that Cesec members have complained about the emergency procedure often used by the government.
“It’s an opinion processed urgently so we’re adding difficulty to difficulty”for example regretted Jean-François Benhamza who expressed the (pious?) wish to change his method in 2025. “We wonder why we are in favor. I realize that there are only doubts”added Makalio Folituu, still conceding that this text was “necessary” and that it was not necessary “not reject everything altogether”. Félix Fong also expressed doubts regarding the implementation of this action plan. “It starts next year, however, we have neither the money nor the staff,” he supported, believing that the government had put “the bar is a little high”. Same story from Thierry Mosser who insists on the essential transversality to be put in place between the ministries, in particular that of Finance which could not be heard by the commission.
An ambitious project but insufficient resources
In its opinion, Cesec therefore regrets that “the 27 actions of the draft master plan are not the subject of a complete estimate of the corresponding human and financial resources”further estimating that the envelope of 187 million francs allocated for the start-up in 2025 appears “very modest”. An opinion which also emphasizes the “immediate need for 60 social workers”, while only 11 positions are budgeted for 2025 at the Directorate of Solidarity, Family and Equality (DSFE).
Cesec even recommends creating a “dedicated school” and “Polynesian patents” to make these professions even more accessible. But also, and as recommended by the Territorial Chamber of Accounts, the drafting of a “code of social action” to establish the legal certainty of its actions.
In summary, civil society representatives welcome a master plan “ambitious” et “necessary” but regret that human and financial resources are not keeping up. However, they unanimously adopted a favorable opinion.
