CAIRO: The reshuffling of governors was announced last Thursday April 17, but the controversy surrounding it wasn t about who made the list and who was taken out. Instead, the new administrative divisions of the governorates and the creation of two new governorates, Sixth of October and Helwan, are making the headlines.
Two days after the decision was announced, an emergency meeting was held by the National Democratic Party’s General Secretariat that reset the borders of the governorates of Giza, Sixth of October, Helwan and Fayoum following the requests of residents of these areas.
Daily News Egypt went out on the street to get the reactions to these changes. Still concerned about government crackdown on political activists following the April 6 strike, almost all interviewees chose to only give their first names or remain anonymous.
“I don’t understand why they did that. What will the people get out of this restructuring, whether they are separate governorates or parts of other governorates? Bread queues and prices are the problems we want action and solutions for, not governorates and administrative procedures. No one will get anything out of this except the high-level government employees. Saber, a kiosk owner in Dokki.
“Retarded. What is the point of it and what are the people getting out of it. I don’t understand where we are going with all this. Iman, a pharmacist.
When two policemen guarding a renowned bank were first asked on the issue, they automatically replied, “We are on duty we can’t speak to anyone. However, when they were promised anonymity, they had a lot to say given they were residents of Fayoum.
“The district of Ayat is now under the jurisdiction of Fayoum governorate but it used to be under Giza which was much closer. Our only means of transport is by train. If my son is sick and I have to take him to the medical center of my governorate he will die.
“As for Sixth of October it is better off as an independent governorate. However, it is unfair for the residents of the Oases because it is very far away, around 400 km, which makes it extremely difficult for them to go there just to do something and come back.
“The decision to create Helwan as a separate governorate was the best one and should have been taken a long time ago. It will be very efficient for the people living in the area. Our only solution is to change our address on all official documents to one that will make us belong to the governorate closest to us. Transportation is now a major obstacle to all of us when we want to go do something at the headquarters of our governorate. Two policemen.
“This is the first time I hear about it. [After informing him of the new changes], “I didn’t feel any change till now so probably I won’t feel anything at all. Magdy Abdel Meguid, taxi driver.
“I didn’t hear of it. I don’t read newspapers. Rasha and Mona, two newspaper vendors in their early 20s.
“The restructuring changed everything for us. I don’t understand it. Badrasheen, which was with Giza is now with Menufiya which is very confusing as they are far from each other. But maybe the change is good, we’ll have to wait and see. Housewife, 35, living in Bolaq.
“It’s good, zay el fol! A worker at a gas station.
“I heard that the governor they removed was a good one. Sayed, fruit salesman.
“I stay away from politics. Sayed’s partner, fruit salesman.
