Jumblat: PSP Will Forge ahead in Tackling Different Aspects of Food Safety

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hailed on Monday the efforts of Health Minister Wael Abou Faour regarding food safety in Lebanon, stressing his party's keenness on the interests of the people.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “The battle waged by the PSP will not halt, but it will continue to tackle different aspects of food safety.”

It will include supervising the import of food, potable water, and other related files, he added.

Jumblat praised Abou Faour's “exceptional” efforts in the food safety battle that is waged for the people “against the owners of establishments who do not care about the citizens.”

“They only care to make financial gains and accumulate wealth, while others seek to shy away from their responsibilities by casting doubt over the results of the scientific results” obtained by the Health Ministry, said the MP.

“There are no gains or losses that will be made in this battle that has as usual been linked to the rivalry between the March 8 and 14 camps,” he noted.

“Corruption in the food sector does not distinguish between people, regions, or sects,” he stressed.

“The corruption affects all the people and the confrontation should be waged by them away from political affiliations,” he remarked.

“This is the battle of the citizen, which the government should adopt completely and confront all who would dare to hinder it and manipulate the health of the people,” he stressed.

Jumblat also questioned “how some officials would support the corruptors instead of standing by combating corruption.”

He therefore called on civil society organizations and syndicates, and labor, economic, and social authorities to carry out the campaign to support the food safety battle.

Last week, Abou Faour, who is also Jumblat's aide, had unveiled a list of establishments throughout Lebanon that had committed food safety violations, a step which had created uproar in the country.

He also lashed out at ministers and officials who had criticized his move, vowing that he will continue in the food safety battle.

Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon, who said that the Health Ministry should be held accountable like the rest of the food safety violators, slammed Abou Faour's method in dealing with the scandal.

M.T.