Minister Lacks Clarity on Employment Status of Regional Water Directors

The employment status of Krsto Radović and Zoran Lakusić remains uncertain as the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, Damjan Ćulafić, has not received information regarding a decision from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue (MRZSD). This situation arose following Lakusić’s appeal against the findings of a labour inspection which deemed Radović’s appointment as director of the Regional Water Supply of Montenegro (RVCP) unlawful.

During a parliamentary session, Ćulafić responded to a question from MP Boris Mugoša regarding the status of the appeal. The Minister stated that he had no knowledge of the outcome. For months, the media outlet Pobjeda has sought an answer from the Ministry of Labour, which is led by Naida Nišić, but has not received any response.

In late February 2023, the labour inspection concluded that Radović did not meet the necessary requirements for the position, particularly regarding managerial experience. RVCP had previously asserted that he possessed twelve years of successful leadership experience and fulfilled all criteria for the role. The challenge to Radović’s appointment has been characterized by some as a retaliatory action by former directors and a group of employees allegedly undermining RVCP for personal gain.

Despite the lack of clarity on the ongoing proceedings concerning the company under his ministry’s oversight, Ćulafić highlighted that RVCP achieved positive results following Radović’s appointment, reporting a profit of €1.65 million by the end of the third quarter. This improvement was attributed to increased revenue from water supply and special fees related to investment in construction projects in coastal municipalities.

Additionally, Ćulafić noted that safe water supply for the coastal region has been secured, with temporary dams constructed on the Morača River and a water filtration plant built. The company has also played a crucial role in combating illegal gravel extraction.

In response to further inquiries from Mugoša about the process for selecting new board members, following Lakusić’s resignation, Ćulafić revealed that he submitted a proposal to the government at the end of May for the dismissal of the old board and the appointment of new members. However, this proposal was withdrawn from the agenda due to a majority decision by the government.

He confirmed plans to submit a new proposal after aligning views among relevant institutions regarding the qualifications of candidates for the board. Mugoša emphasized the importance of accountability, questioning who would be held responsible for Radović’s year-long unlawful tenure should the MRZSD confirm the labour inspection’s findings. He pointed out that a sixty-day window for appointing a new board commenced following Lakusić’s resignation at the end of 2022, alleging that political maneuvering was at play.

The RVCP board, alongside Lakusić, includes Milena Živanović, a Master of Applied Management Studies, Dritan Rexha, a Master of Physical Culture, Miloš Stanković, a graduate manager, and Zdravko Čurović, an engineer. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the leadership at RVCP reflects broader challenges in governance and accountability within state-run enterprises.