In a statement, the Municipality of Saida clarified that the newly installed barbed wire between the port basin and the new Corniche was not implemented by them. Rather, it was implemented by a construction contractor at the request of the port administration, “for security reasons and based on reports received by the port administration from security authorities in its vicinity.”
The municipality affirmed that the Saida port area falls outside its jurisdiction and is not part of the direct municipal property or administration. It pointed out that the port administration belongs to a public institution known as the “Saida Port Investment Authority,” which is a financially and administratively independent institution, subject to the guardianship of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, “in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.”
The municipality affirmed that its role is limited to follow-up and coordination within the limits of the available legal powers, and in the interest of public safety and the public interest. It pointed out that the port administration had informed members of the municipal council during a previous meeting of some “security data and details that may require taking certain measures,” and that the mayor and the members present then requested that the municipality be informed in advance of any procedure before its implementation, “in order to discuss its security, municipal, urban, environmental and social repercussions.”
The statement added that the municipality was not aware of this procedure in advance, and learned about it at the same time as the citizens. While appreciating the security considerations, the municipality believes that “it was possible to adopt alternative mechanisms or different approaches that take into account the aesthetic and functional dimension of the public space, especially since the site in question is considered one of the open spaces that constitute a fundamental outlet for the people of the city and its visitors.”
The municipality clarified that it is currently following up on this matter with the concerned authorities, and has been informed that the procedure is “temporary pending the completion of other security standards and procedures, and that solutions will be adopted later that preserve the security of the port and take into account the privacy of the site and its being part of the public space of the city of Saida.”
The municipality concluded its statement by emphasizing the importance of “verifying the accuracy of information transfer, and not being drawn into rumors or misinformation, whether in facts or in the legal framework, and not holding the municipality responsible for responsibilities that do not fall within its competence,” stressing “its permanent commitment to transparency and clarifying the facts to public opinion.”
