KUJALLEQ SAYS STOP
A tragic incident in Nanortalik made the cup overflow, says mayor Malene Vahl Rasmussen (D). In an interview with Sermitsiaq, the mayor also explains how a reopening for sales can take place.
He turned 37 on Thursday man found dead in Nanortalik, and the police have subsequently arrested and charged four people with murder.
Mayor of the Municipality of Kujalleq, Malene Vahl Rasmussen (D), tells Sermitsiaq that the incident helped to trigger the alcohol ban, which came into force on Friday evening throughout the municipality.
– It was the drop that made the glass overflow. In the last month, we have sent crisis response to Nanortalik three times for different reasons. And it is the same people who are sent there time and time again, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
She elaborates that the case triggered an approach to her from both the citizens of Nanortalik and the town’s business community.
– The population has simply had enough. It is their own wish that something drastic should happen, says the mayor.
Why a ban in the entire municipality?
She explains that the municipality has asked Naalakkersuisut for an alcohol ban in the entire municipality and not just Nanortalik, because the problems are not isolated to Nanortalik. The municipality is buried in tasks that have the nature of firefighting, says the mayor:
– Everything we do is just firefighting. We can’t go on like this. Our staff can’t handle that either, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen and continues:
– Our organization does not have the hands to be able to do preventive measures, because they do firefighting and emergency cases all the time. Our budgets for out-of-home placements are increasing and increasing, and we see that action plans are not made for many of the placements that take place because you do not have the resources.
The self-government’s takeover has not remedied problems
The children, young people and disabled area in Kujalleq Municipality is currently administered by the Self-Government, which has suspended the areas from the municipality. The mayor says that they have not been able to see an improvement in the conditions despite the suspension, and that everything indicates that there is a long way to go to lift the area:
– Now we are working on the budget for 2027, and there is a prospect of further increases in placements outside the home. And we can no longer just look through our fingers because there is a need for something different to happen, and this is where it starts, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
She also emphasizes that the ban is not a long-term solution:
– We must find the long-term solution during this shutdown.
Criteria for reopening must be determined
In relation to a reopening of alcohol sales, the mayor says that plans are being made for how this could possibly happen. She expects a number of measuring points to be set up, which must be followed:
– We do not have such a date when the ban must be lifted again for a specific reason. The measures we are starting now will define where sales can resume, says the mayor.
She elaborates that the number of reports about children and young people and the number of calls to the police are closely monitored. The municipality will also measure children’s well-being in more detail, so that this can also play a role in a possible reopening.
Has previously spoken out against strict alcohol laws
Back in 2020, Malene Vahl Rasmussen, as a member of Inatsisartut, proposed to relax the alcohol law, which she got passed.
She says it is correct that she had a different attitude then:
– We (Demokraatit, ed.) have always used the argument: It is freedom under responsibility.
– But when you can see that freedom is being used irresponsibly, then it is freedom at the expense of children’s interests.
– It is also freedom at the expense of public funds, which we can no longer just look through our fingers, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
