The recent issues surrounding the small taxi services in Marrakech have compelled local authorities to implement a stringent set of regulations aimed at curbing the rampant disorder in this sector. As highlighted in the Thursday edition of "Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia", the municipality is keen on enhancing the quality of urban transport services provided to both Moroccan citizens and foreign tourists alike. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with existing laws governing the taxi industry. The authorities have introduced specific punitive measures against taxi drivers who refuse to use meters during service provision. Such measures are designed to enforce the legal requirements that mandate drivers to adhere to established fare rates, ensuring that customers are charged fairly and transparently through the use of meters, which serve as the only legal means to determine the cost of a journey.
In another significant development, the same publication reported on a ruling by the judicial authority in the financial crimes chamber of the Fes Court of Appeals. Two women, who were employed at the Banque Populaire in the Fes-Meknes region, have each been sentenced to five years in prison for their involvement in misappropriating 24.4 million dirhams.
Additionally, "Bayane Al-Yawm" highlighted concerns raised by educational and union sources, along with parents of students, regarding the deteriorating condition of facilities at Idris Benzakri Middle School in Salé. The school has been reported to have visible cracks and deficiencies in some of its buildings. According to the same outlet, the current situation necessitates urgent intervention to rehabilitate the affected facilities, ensuring suitable and safe working conditions for both educational and administrative staff. Rashid Aghrabi, the regional director of the Ministry of National Education in Salé, made it clear that restoration efforts have been undertaken in non-damaged wings, which include classrooms, sanitary facilities, and sports fields, along with the construction of a new clothing store.
On an alarming note, an assessment of the foundations of a wing that includes two classrooms, as well as the main hall and the administration area, revealed defects that cannot be reinforced. Consequently, the specialized committee, with the involvement of external stakeholders and based on the expertise of the contracted laboratory, has decided that the affected buildings necessitate demolition and reconstruction, which falls outside the scope of the current contract.
Meanwhile, the unified health union coordination in the Agadir-Ida Outanane region has expressed its opposition to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection's decision to temporarily close the Hassan II Regional Hospital in Agadir, starting at the end of March. The union criticized the lack of clarity and practical alternatives in the methodology adopted, arguing that it promotes a unilateral approach to managing reform efforts without genuine involvement from professionals or consideration of the perspectives of stakeholders. They emphasized that the facility handles significant patient numbers from various regions daily, warning that the absence of an alternative healthcare structure capable of accommodating this influx could jeopardize the continuity of health services and exacerbate confusion within the system.
Additionally, "Bayane Al-Yawm" reported that the new Bab Marrakech market located near the international exhibition in Casablanca is currently experiencing significant unrest. Merchants and professionals have recently broken their silence to expose a harsh reality of administrative mismanagement and abuses within the facility’s operations. Amid accusations of nepotism and the imposition of “outsiders” with aggressive behaviors, many poultry vendors find themselves in direct confrontation with what they describe as the “legitimization of chaos” under administrative cover.
As reported by hespress.com.
