Strong Republic parliamentary bloc member, MP Ziad Hawat, inaugurated on Sunday the first phase of the joint transport project for Byblos, in a ceremony held in the city's public park, in the presence of former Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani representing Lebanese Forces Party Chief Samir Geagea; MP Shawki. Daccache; Director General of Land and Maritime Transport Ahmad Tamer; Acting Qaem Maqam of Byblos Natalie Merhi El-Khoury; Mayor of Byblos Wissam Zaarour, and a number of current and former mayors and prominent dignitaries from the region.

In his opening word, Hawat noted that “this project has been delayed due to the Corona pandemic, and due to the aggravation of the economic crisis prevailing in Lebanon.”

“After the pandemic was contained, and in wake of the failure to address the serious economic deterioration, the need became more and more necessary for this project to see the light,” he added, emphasizing that they are no longer going to wait for the state that has abandoned its duties in all facilities.

“This situation we are living in today made us take the initiative, even at the minimum possible, in order to contribute to alleviating a small part of the burdens of the economic and daily-living crisis on the citizen,” Hawat went on, stressing that “all are called upon to contribute to the success of the public transport project of Byblos district.”

“This project is not profitable, and the tariff is only to secure the project's operational cost and continuity. The public transportation crisis and other problems that the Lebanese live with on a daily basis underscore the need to quickly approve expanded decentralization,” he asserted, noting that the expanded decentralization is one of the provisions of the Taif Agreement which has not been implemented to-date, and which has become a dire necessity at this stage.

Hawat hoped that the awaited parliamentary elections would be an opportunity to bring about the long-aspired change in the country, adding, “We will not wait for anyone, we will wait for the upcoming parliamentary elections, and we hope that the Lebanese citizen, while exercising his right to vote, will judge his conscience and remember and hold accountable all those who contributed to his humiliation and oppression…”

“Elections in all countries of the world are an opportunity to renew the political elites and change the ruling class,” he underlined.

“Let us work together to render the upcoming elections a pivotal point in the history of Lebanon, ending the era of humiliation, oppression, quotas, clientelism and favoritism, and to put together the first course in the process of building the Lebanon that we dream of,” Hawat concluded.