REPORT: Lebanese state spends frivolously on "unnecessary" projects

When General Emile Lahoud was President of the Lebanese state, constructions began on the "Emile Lahoud Olympic Swimming Pool". However, construction was later halted by the entrepreneur who was in charge of the execution of the project for errors in implementation.

According to ministerial sources, the incomplete arena cost $7,6 Million. When Lebanon won the bids to host Arab Games 2015, the current cabinet decided to pursue the construction and apportioned an extra $10,4 Million budget for this purpose.

In this context, Youth and Sports Minister Faysal Karami told LBCI that there will be major changes in the project, stressing that a private board will be placed in charge and that the ministry is working on issuing a decree to appoint a joint board for all governmental sport premises.

For his part, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud criticized the appointment of the board and sarcastically said: "Lebanese citizens won't swim in a pool with the Lebanese state responsible for its maintenance."

The total cost of this project is $18 Million. Perhaps the Lebanese government should spend such amounts on more important and necessary projects that citizens could benefit from.


For the full LBCI report, please click on the image above