17 March 2019 - The Mayor of Budva, Marko Bato Carević, said that he supports the owners of open bars located at the main city promenade in Budva in their struggle to be allowed to work this year. He also stressed that the local government does not have the jurisdiction to decide which temporary buildings can be allowed to work, and that the jurisdiction was given to the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro.
The owners of six popular discotheques, which were removed from the Plan of temporary objects in Budva by the Company for Coastal Zone Management and the Ministry of Sustainable Development of Montenegro, announced a protest on March 19.
Legal representative of owners of cafes and restaurants in Budva, lawyer Zoran Piperović, said that the discussions with representatives of the PCCZM and the representatives of the Ministry have been held for a month. During these negotiations, the representatives of these institutions have been constantly implying that the person in charge for this decision was the Mayor of Budva, reports News Agency Vijesti. "I was told that as a condition for concluding contracts for this year, we need to deliver the Permission from the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management, three certificates from the hotel owners whose hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the facilities and the approval of the Mayor of Budva."
Piperović said that hotel owners already gave their confirmation that these facilities do not interfere with their own businesses. "The state claims that they will give the permits, if the Mayor of Budva does the same. I am well aware of the theory of law and state, and I have to admit that I have not yet encountered this kind of case, which is reflected in the fact that the state says – “we want to give the necessary permits, but the Mayor won’t let us," Piperović explained.
Commenting on this situation, Mayor Carević said that someone wants to get him dragged into the whole problematic situation. "The local government has no jurisdiction and there is no need to announce any opinion whatsoever on this matter. It is up to the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management to decide and comment on the matter," Carević said.
He stressed that protests are legitimate in this matter and that he supports the requests of the restaurant and bar owners.
"Everyone has the right to fight for their rights. Running a business is a tireless process, and no one can stand in the way of business, no matter how hard he tries. The business should only be flexible and adaptable to all standards, but it cannot be stopped. Budva is a city of entertainment and nightlife, and Budva without these facilities will never be the same. How much will it affect the turnout, it remains to be seen, "Carević said.
Carević did not miss the opportunity out to show his disagreement with the decision of the previous municipal leadership - that the municipality deleted 250 temporary buildings located along the promenade, stating that it was not in accordance with the stand of the Democratic Front.
"If only they listened what I said earlier, this situation would not have occurred. Still, the one who has made the decisions at the time will have to solve the present situation which is the result of those decisions, ”the Mayor added.
According to him, the decision makers at the time should have taken into account the economic aspect, as more than a thousand people will now lose their jobs.
"I told them what we should do at the time, and if they listened, we could’ve reached an agreement which would’ve benefitted all sides. They did not allow that possibility; because we were conditioned by the principle "this or that" and the representatives of the Democratic Front had to accept one of the options. A parliamentary decision was then passed and it is currently being implemented, and there is no more room for discussion. We could’ve done everything differently, without the tensions and conflicts we now have to deal with. But the decision has been made and we will implement it as we must, "Carević said.
Source: Investitor
