The problem of flooding is recurrent. Last year, we had the same case and we had the same comments. First of all, allow me to express my sympathy to the people, particularly in the disaster areas of Parcelles, Yeumbeul, and even Mbao, where the sea is advancing and has taken some homes. We send them our message of support and compassion. This is a recurring problem. Investments should have been made, funds allocated. The necessary had not been done, otherwise we would not have had these problems.

Ten-year plan of more than 750 billion

If you see how our cities are currently flooded, it means that the rigorous work has not been done. That is why I finally urge the current government to be more active and by being more active, to be able to tell the population that this will not happen tomorrow, it is something that will happen over time. But, when we do something, we must do it well and not go back to it. Floods related to rain will always occur, as long as the world exists. You saw recently in Pakistan, there were severe floods that bereaved more than 400 families. We recently saw a violent typhoon in China that wreaked havoc.

The case of Senegal

What's happening in Senegal is just a natural phenomenon, but it's still catastrophic because the people are feeling it hard. What bothers me about these floods is that these are things that could have been avoided. So today is not the time for promises. We need to give these people who are experiencing flooding something concrete and pragmatic. We have this ORSEC plan, which has clearly been a failure. We need to think about renaming it and redefining the strategies and commitments and implementing them over a set period of time. This will take time: 6 months, probably 1 year. There will be more floods next year, but we need to be able to tell the people that, speak truthfully, and not promise them unrealistic things. Only then will they support the people. It will be difficult when there are works for the people's daily lives, but they will understand that it's the same everywhere in the world. There are construction projects that disrupt people, traffic, and community life. But once the work is finished, everyone benefits and everyone will have forgotten the difficulties they experienced. So, I think that's the language we need to use, and the floods will be behind us in a few years.

5-year recovery plan announced and audit of the 10-year plan?

It's imperative. We have to stop promising endless plans. For me, what exists needs to be audited and made very clear, and from there, a new strategy needs to be rolled out. This will be difficult for the population, but ultimately, it will be a result that people appreciate and value.

The solution to flooding?

The solution probably isn't, but we can improve it. It's like a sick person going to the hospital. We're not going to promise you a complete cure, but we're going to diagnose your illness and then provide medication and a cure over time; we're never 100% sure that we can do that. In these floods, as long as Senegal exists, we'll have floods. In the neighborhoods of Dakar, the urban planning was very poorly done, and this calls into question the former regimes, which were very bad in their way of managing this urban planning. Today, we see it with the new city of Diamniadio. We're going to have the same problems if the necessary is not done. So, we need to work on this urban planning so that the next neighborhoods that will constitute the new ones like Kounoune, etc., and those that will be born afterward, we need to successfully establish them. For those that already exist, it's already lost. But we can always do work and improve the problem, but it's not with promises.

Economic and social recovery plan

The initiative is good, but such a plan, which involves the intervention of several economic sectors, could have been better prepared.

Was there any lack of preparation?

We reviewed the plan, and we are not novices in the field or in the economic vision. We should have included more experts. Such plans are not done in a hurry. There was haste. That's the impression it gave me, and it's the same impression as all our compatriots who have expertise in some of these areas. We had to convene them, discuss with them to refine it further. I understand that the government was in a hurry. But in my opinion, it should have been launched a little later, perhaps included with the 2050 vision, so that when we release the project, it will be a well-defined finished project, a project that we will simply be rolling out.

Failed plan?

I'm not saying it like that. People took the trouble to work on it. This intellectual effort must be clearly acknowledged. I noticed a few anomalies in it, but this is not the place to discuss them. All I know is that an endogenous plan for Senegal's current state is difficult. It would have been necessary to integrate international dimensions because foreign investors can also make this plan a success.

Impertinent financing choice

Given the current state of our finances, this is absolutely irrelevant. In our ad hoc committee in Askanou, Senegal, we discuss all these issues, and the conclusions we have reached show us that there is a lack of preparation in many things and haste, especially in terms of figures. This should have been explored more deeply. We must recognize that the will is there, the ambition and the desire to make the country shine, but we will also have to support this plan as we did with Vision 2050, hoping that within six months we will not have another plan and that we will focus on this one. Without doubt, we will have to rectify the parameters that are not adequate for this five-year term.

Recovery Plan and Senegal 2050 Agenda

This plan compresses the Senegal 2050 Agenda, even though the presentation of the Senegal 2050 Agenda was grandiose. We had mobilized the efforts of the entire nation. For someone who says we're going to commit the country for 30-35 years, it wasn't enough. We had to take the time to develop the thing and tie it up well. It's not only the Senegalese who scrutinize this kind of file, but also the financial partners and investors. These people need to be given something concrete. I invite the head of government to support such plans. It's the same for the recovery plan. I appeal to the Prime Minister's office. There are already typos on the first slide. A document that arrives at the Prime Minister's office that he reads in front of the whole world with the accompaniment of the President of the Republic and all the country's CEOs, this plan that is supposed to be extremely rigorous and from the first slide that there are mistakes in French, it is unacceptable. Which means that it was not proofread before it reached the Prime Minister's office. And as a simple citizen I saw it, that means that the guy who works at the IMF and others saw it and will ask himself how seriously it was worked on. When you edit this kind of document it must be done meticulously.

Partnership with the IMF

I wrote an indictment on my social media to let the Prime Minister know that it is necessary to have organizations like the IMF. As ambitious as we are, unfortunately we are among the 30 poorest countries. The economy is factual, not ambition. These are statistics that are realized and achievable. We are all patriots, but that is not the issue. But the question is how to get the country out of this situation. I once heard that the IMF has never developed a country, but it has helped improve conditions in a country. When it gives you an investment, it asks you where to put it. I appreciated the PM's visit to China because it means there is another possible path with the BRICS and others who can support Senegal and revitalize our economy.

Reduction of the state's standard of living

On a $5,677 billion plan, the figure alone is frightening. The state will only have $50 billion in contributions, but I say it can do better. It's a collective effort; salaries must be reduced by 15 to 20%. The message will be heard more clearly. Teaching by example. We can't eliminate special funds. But we can modernize or reduce them. By doing this with a document that has been read and reread, it will be much more audible.

Air Senegal's difficulties

Air Senegal is stillborn. I made a presentation on this. These are problems that existed before. To achieve this, reform is necessary. We need to work on the side effects. These are planes, but there's a whole marketing campaign behind them. If there are problems, they must be able to warn customers. Beyond the debt, there's the whole marketing aspect that must accompany the company's restructuring. When we hear about these unpleasant situations, it shocks us as transport experts.

By Adama Faye