To understand the frustration in the southern municipality, we must turn back the clock to November 2024, when there were major challenges in the social area. This meant that Naalakkersuisut decided to take over management and management of the areas within children, young people and the disabled.
The explanation for the drastic step was explained by the then Naalakkersuisoq for Children and Youth, Aqqaluaq B. Egede, in this way:
To understand the frustration in the southern municipality, we must turn back the clock to November 2024, when there were major challenges in the social area. This meant that Naalakkersuisut decided to take over management and management of the areas within children, young people and the disabled.
The explanation for the drastic step was explained by the then Naalakkersuisoq for Children and Youth, Aqqaluaq B. Egede, in this way:
– The problems in the municipality are so big and so acute that there is a need for an immediate helping hand to the municipality, so that the citizens’ rights and compliance with the legislation are ensured.
Responsibility must be returned
The fact that Naalakkersuisut intervened in this way and deprived the Municipality of Kujalleq of a very important area of responsibility, which constitutes approximately one third of the entire municipality’s total economy, was explained by the fact that staff shortages in Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in particular had resulted in 857 open cases in the area of children and young people and in addition 300 disability cases.
Naalakkersuisut’s decision was welcomed by the then mayor Stine Egede.
It has always been the intention that responsibility for the area should be returned to the municipality, but that process – or lack thereof – is now causing Kommune Kujalleq’s municipal director Randi Vestergaard Evaldsen to run into the inkwell.
– Unacceptable handling of suspended area – lack of management, documentation and respect for cooperation, reads the rant from the municipal director against the Self-Government.
Expectation not met
She points out that back in November 2024 there was a clear expectation that the Self-Government’s intervention “should ensure an overview, documentation and progress. Unfortunately, this expectation has not been fulfilled”.
– Since my appointment as municipal director, the area has been given high priority. The Municipality of Kujalleq is in daily contact with both citizens and employees, and it is therefore very worrying to note that the handling by the Self-Government continues to be characterized by a lack of structure, lack of documentation and insufficient coordination and has created insecurity and dissatisfaction among our citizens, writes the municipal manager in a press release.
The municipal director accuses the Self-Government of not having a sufficient overview of the area, as the municipality runs its head against a wall when requesting materials, factual data and other necessary documentation.
– At the same time, we are experiencing an unreasonable pressure for a quick return, which gives the impression that the scope and complexity of the task is only now becoming clear to the Self-Government, states Randi Vestergaard Evaldsen.
Calling for working group
She points out that there has been an agreement to set up a joint working group that would ensure progress so that the municipality could regain control of the area. But nothing has happened. The municipal director explains that the working group is a central element in the whole case as follows:
– In the event of a prolonged suspension, the municipality has a statutory obligation to submit a proposal for an action plan for phasing out the suspension and returning management to the municipality. It cannot be initiated, as the municipality does not have factual data about the area, the initiated measures, the progress in the process and, last but not least, current data.
– Therefore, it can be stated that in practice there is no functioning structure for handling an area that constitutes a significant part of the municipality’s overall task portfolio.
Five requirements
She warns against the municipality having to take over the areas on a hasty and uninformed basis. Therefore, the Municipality of Kujalleq makes the following demands:
- Instant forwarding of all relevant material from November 2024 to date
- Establishment of a real and binding working group without further delay
- Fixed structure for cooperation and coordination
- Timely forwarding of agendas and basis for decision
- Clear managerial anchoring and participation
In conclusion, Randi Vestergaard Evaldsen sends this message to the Government:
– We expect a significant improvement and real effort from the self-government – immediately.
Silence
Sermitsiaq has tried to get a comment on the serious accusations from naalakkersuisoq for Children, Youth and Families Nivi Olsen. A written inquiry from Monday to the department has still not been answered. Since the takeover in November 2024, when naalakkersuisoq Aqqaluaq B. Egede stepped in to help the municipality, there has been an Inatsisart committee and the area now belongs to Nivi Olsen.
