: rural commune where clientelism, favouritism and the comfort of animals are cultivated rather than that of citizens

Mr Governor,

I am using the press to make you hear me, because all the steps and requests for an audience undertaken for more than 3 years to explain to you as before, to your predecessor, the object of my request, have only led to total radio silence.

Several letters to the successive presidents of the commune of Bensmim with copies to the prefecture of Ifrane and which carried barely veiled accusations about clientelism, favouritism and other abuses of all kinds did not make anyone jump and no one has deigned to give me, to this day, the slightest formal or informal response.

Several requests for an audience addressed to Mr Governor, or for a meeting with your Chief of Cabinet, the head of the DAG or that of the rural communities are, there too, remained a dead letter. Why this contempt for the citizen?

Mr Governor, should I remind you that it is only about the connection to the electrical network of my house.

But I ask myself a few questions when I see all the connections that have been made recently around my home.

How is it that my house was deliberately excluded by the technicians of the commune of Bensmim during the last census (the only one to remain in the dark in this commune)? How is it that our caid (who also received my letters) endorsed with full knowledge of the facts this list which deliberately excluded my family? Would we be second-class Moroccan citizens?

How is it that 4 houses in front of my place and barely finished for 4 months were connected last month and that mine which meets all standards and for 4 years remains in the dark?

How is it that the stable of a local elected official 300 metres from my place was equipped with a great reinforcement of poles and that of a rich breeder in front of my place is also so while my family remains between these two privileged people sitting between two chairs condemned to darkness? Should I understand that our local elected officials favour the comfort of sheep over that of citizens or would there be something that escapes me?

Mr Governor, there is something even more serious, for years, dozens of public lighting lampposts have been installed in complete illegality and at the expense of the taxpayer, inside private properties but not just any ones nor at just anyone's place.

I am indignant as a taxpayer to participate in the lighting for free of the owners and privileged, all friends of the president and members of the commune of Bensmim while my family lives in the dark.

A real scandal! These lampposts would be much more useful in dark places of the commune and where the citizen needs them most.

I am indignant to note that my family is the only one to live in the dark in this commune because of the greed and clientelism of certain elected officials and technicians of Bensmim.

The unthinkable expenses in fuel to light me cost me more than four thousand dirhams per month, heavily burdening the pension of a retirement that I hoped would be peaceful and thus rot the life of my family.

To finish, Mr Governor, allow me to tell you that what is happening in this commune goes against the image of Morocco that His Majesty the King, may God assist him and preserve him for us, wants for his people, Morocco for which he is on all fronts to lead us towards modernity.

It is high time that such injustices were a thing of the past, our city fathers would be much more inspired to follow in the footsteps of the Sovereign towards more equity.

I thank you for repairing this injustice and ask you to accept, Mr Governor, the expression of my respectful greetings.

* Gouraud Cedar Road Ougmas, Rural Commune of Ben Smim