LEBANESE ASSOCIATION FOR TAXPAYERS’ RIGHTS (ALDIC) SENDS REPORT FOR YEAR 2023 TO ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT


The Lebanese Association for Taxpayers’ Rights (ALDIC) has sent its report for the year 2023, issued in collaboration with the “Konrad Adenauer Stiftung” Foundation and “The Policy Initiative” Association, as part of the BINA’ program funded by the European Union and managed by Transparency International (TI-LB), to all representatives of the Lebanese people in the Parliament. This report addresses the topic of public financial management in Lebanon.

In a personal letter addressed to each MP, along with the mentioned report, ALDIC explained that “adopting a sound, transparent, and efficient management of public funds is an urgent necessity for Lebanon today, more than ever, especially in the absence of effective oversight, accountability, and transparency, particularly with the exacerbation of the current crisis.” ALDIC added, “Sound public financial management can achieve positive economic and social results, as well as distribute resources more effectively and fairly. Following the principles of successful
modern public financial management achieves sustainable economic growth, which Lebanon urgently needs to emerge from the successive crises afflicting it. All of this, of course, requires good public finance management, securing the necessary revenues, knowing the state’s actual financial needs, and how to collect and spend them according to rules and conditions and under any mechanisms for effective monitoring.”

ALDIC has decided to communicate with parliamentarians , whether individually or through their parliamentary blocs, and send them the above-mentioned report for their close review and constructive action if necessary, or to consider its contents and recommendations. This step will be followed by continuous work meetings to discuss this extremely important matter for Lebanon, as well as to exchange views and experiences in order to explore possible solutions and the possibility of joint action and coordination to issue necessary legislation in this regard.

It is worth noting that ALDIC had previously
met with representatives from both the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb parliamentary blocs in the Parliament, alongside various private sector entities and organizations. These meetings will be followed by continuous ones with all other active parliamentary blocs and major committees, alongside ongoing engagement with Lebanese public opinion through media channels.

The Lebanese Association for Taxpayers’ Rights (ALDIC) was established in 2012. It is dedicated to promoting citizenship and ethical tax practices through compliance, commitment, knowledge dissemination, and informing citizens about their rights and obligations. ALDIC also aims to raise awareness about the importance and dimensions of taxation, as well as encourage citizens to advocate for enhanced oversight of public finances. For over a decade, ALDIC has functioned as an observatory, alerting and mitigating violations and irregularities in the fields of taxes and public finance. It stands as a hub for cooperation, exchange, and initiative, with a mis
sion to serve the general and public interests while promoting good governance. ALDIC firmly believes that effective public fund management is paramount for a modern state to fulfill its core mission of ensuring the well-being of its citizens. It is committed to raising awareness of the role that civil society must play, as the proper management of public funds requires the active participation of citizens, essential for ensuring sound and proper management of public funds. In all its initiatives and activities, ALDIC emphasizes its non-political, non-partisan, and non-denominational role. It works to support the rights of all taxpayers without discrimination and maintains complete independence in all its efforts.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Gaza relief and education…the most important files of the second session of the government

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Council of Ministers approved, in its second session, today, Monday, the formation of the Supreme National Committee for Relief of the Southern Governorates, with the Minister of State for Relief Affairs in charge of coordinating and consulting with all competent authorities to develop a vision for the committee’s membership, its tasks, and its work mechanisms.

In addition, the Council of Ministers assigned the heads of government departments, each in their respective capacity, to coordinate with the Minister of State for Relief Affairs regarding relief operations in the southern governorates and to provide him with all necessary information in this regard.

The Council also assigned the General Secretariat to prepare a report on the committees that were previously formed to provide relief to the southern governorates, the tasks they accomplished, and the decisions issued in particular for study, review, and use, and to submit recommendations to the Council of Ministers regarding them.

At the opening of the session, Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa referred to the efforts made by the Palestinian leadership to stop the war on Gaza, which continues for the 185th day in a row, as well as the continued violations of the occupation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, denouncing the violations to which prisoners are exposed in the occupation prisons and the policies of medical negligence, which It led to the martyrdom of 16 prisoners in less than a year, the last of whom was prisoner Walid Daqqa.

The Council also heard a presentation from the Head of the Energy Authority and the Head of the Water Authority on the progress of the field crews’ work in repairing some water and electricity lines in the southern governorates, restarting part of the potable water wells, and introducing quantities of fuel to operate as many power generators as possible, and their plans for the next day. For a truce and to stop the war.

The Cabinet also discussed the priority of improving the education sector, and li
stened to a presentation from the Minister of Education about the ministry’s efforts and plans for the educational process in Gaza, after the Israeli war destroyed about 75% of the educational institutions there.

While Mustafa stressed that the education sector represents one of the government’s most important priorities, specifically reconsidering education and its goals, rehabilitating the infrastructure of educational facilities, and the necessity of regularizing the educational process, upgrading the teacher, re-planning educational outcomes, and developing educational curricula.

In light of the continuation of the Israeli war on our people, and with the approaching Eid al-Fitr, the Council of Ministers appealed to our people everywhere to unite and show solidarity, and for the celebrations of the Eid to be limited to prayers, supplications, and family ties.

Source: Maan News Agency

“Education and Higher Education” announces scholarships in Thailand

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced the availability of a number of scholarships in Thailand for the academic year 2024-2025, in the field of bachelor’s and postgraduate studies (Master’s and Doctorate).

The Ministry invited students wishing to compete for these scholarships to visit its website http://www.mohe.pna.ps for full details.

Source: Maan News Agency

King, presidents of Egypt, France call for Gaza ceasefire

Amman: His Majesty King Abdullah II, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and France President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, noting that violence, terror, and war cannot bring peace.

According to a royal court statement, in an opinion piece published in Jordan’s Al Rai, Egypt’s Al Ahram, France’s Le Monde, and the Washington Post on Monday evening, the leaders said the two-state solution is the only credible path to guaranteeing peace and security for all.

The leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and France called for the immediate and unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, warning against the dangerous consequences of an Israeli offensive on Rafah.

They stressed the need to protect UN and humanitarian workers in Gaza, noting that Israel is under an obligation to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population.

The leaders also called on all actors to refrain from any escalatory action or unilateral measures, stressi
ng the importance of respecting the historical and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites, and the role of the Jordanian Waqf under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Source:Jordan News Agency

The occupation tightens its siege of the village of Husan

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Today, Monday, the Israeli occupation forces tightened their siege of the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem.

Husan Village Council Director Rami Hamamra said that the occupation forces tightly closed all entrances to the village, especially the ‘Al-Sharafa’ and ‘Al-Muteena’ areas, and set up several military checkpoints in them, obstructing citizens’ access to their homes in the village, as well as in the town of Nahalin and the village of Wadi Fukin. This forced them to take bumpy dirt roads.

Hamamra added that the occupation forces forced shop owners in the ‘Al-Sharafa’ and ‘Al-Muteena’ areas to close them, in addition to preventing citizens from reaching the Abu Bakr Mosque in ‘Al-Muteena’ to perform prayers.

Source: Maan News Agency

Real estate trading in Jordan at JOD1.53 billion in first quarter of 2024

Amman: The trading volume in real estate in Jordan during the first quarter of 2024 amounted to JOD1.53 billion while the trading volume in March amounted to JOD454 million, a 22 per cent decrease compared to 2023.

According to the Department of Lands and Survey’s monthly report, revenues during the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 12 per cent compared to 2023, reaching about JOD59 million.

The report indicates a decline in real estate sales in the Kingdom by the end of last March by 9 per cent, as apartment sales decreased by 8 per cent, while land sales decreased by 10 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

On a monthly level, the value of revenues during last March decreased 34 per cent compared to the same month in 2023, reaching JOD15.5 million.

Source:Jordan News Agency