By the Gazette Editorial Board The line-up of governors last week had 21 fresh faces for appointment. Only five of the previous governors retained their posts and the former governor of Damietta was transferred to Kafr el-Sheikh. The public was looking forward to this move which had been delayed for some time. The delay, however, was understandable in light of the shocking corruption case in which the former Menoufia governor was found to be involved. It stood to logic then that thorough investigation had to be conducted so that the candidates would fulfil the criteria of efficiency, experience and have clean hands. The appointment of 18 new deputy governors, mostly young people, means that new blood is now being injected into running the governorates. The scope of change shows that the political leadership is determined to seek better governance that will respond to long standing public demand for improved services in the governorates. The economic stability that has been achieved should help the new governors to act confidently. The problems facing governors are most probably the same across the country, although the geographical nature and activities that prevail in each governorate may add different details here and there. Citizens throughout the nation have common complaints regarding prices, cleanliness, bureaucracy, corruption and health and educational services. The new governors are expected to come forward with non-traditional approaches to problems, especially those related to the people's everyday life such as cleanliness. Because governors run the affairs of the governorate in co-operation with municipalities, the reshuffle in certain posts in the municipal bodies across the country – which took effect a few days ago – raises hopes regarding the governors' ability to find solutions to problems. It is no secret that the municipalities have been stained with corrupt practices which had given way to all kinds of encroachments. The intensive anti-graft campaign recently launched by the Administrative Control Authority should encourage governors to use an iron fist in fighting negligence and counter-acting corruption. There are also high hopes that the municipal bill to be debated in parliament this session will make a great difference in terms of decentralisation. Parliament members say that under the new law, the new local councils to be elected, will be instrumental, in their capacity as popular watchdogs, in monitoring and supervising local markets and the standard of services offered to the public. The nation's 27 governorates need much work to be done and it is up to the governors to orchestrate the assisting bodies to improve the people's quality of life. Citizens are already burdened with an unprecedented wave of price hikes, so they should at least feel that officials are exerting sincere efforts to ease their life.
