Yesterday, we provided a thoroughly substantiated rebuttal of MP Pribilović’s claims about the reasons for CEDIS’s negative financial results in 2021, which she is very skilfully trying to sidestep in her address to the public today. This makes it clear that the real reason for her speaking out is nostalgia for the past, when she had some say in CEDIS’s operations.
And it is precisely then that MP Pribilović moves on to the subject that suits her best: records kept on various grounds, of which she truly is a par excellence expert. We cannot answer her questions, because since April this year CEDIS has kept only the records it is required to maintain under the applicable regulations, and therefore we have no records of who did what for whom, or of anyone’s political or other beliefs.
We suggest that the former minister find out more about the people to whom she alludes in her address today; we know that she has contacts among CEDIS employees who can provide her with this information. She can therefore learn how they perform their duties and what their colleagues think of their work, including those who provide various politicians and media outlets with information about CEDIS’s operations. This does not bother the current management in the least, as it strives to make every aspect of the company’s operations accessible to the broadest public.
What matters most to us is how someone does their job, and whether they do it honestly and responsibly—which is undoubtedly the case for everyone the former minister alludes to—not who is related to whom. The unofficial author of the legal violence, aided by political corruption, that took place in the Municipality of Budva in the spring of 2020 is the last person who should be talking about this subject.
MP Pribilović, ever since you publicly commented on CEDIS’s operations, we have been continually informed about abuses you committed as minister in the department you once headed. The information about the public procurement procedures you conducted is particularly interesting. Your reason for speaking out is probably also that people in Budva’s cafés can often be heard saying that you successfully secured work for certain private companies at CEDIS as well. Your focus on the figures for the funds allocated by CEDIS to hire electrical fitters as direct employees through an agency is probably driven by MP Pribilović’s regret that CEDIS will carry out the next phase of the Medium- and Low-Voltage Network and Facilities Revitalisation Project using its own workforce. Clearly, this has upset the plans of some of her favourites and prevented them from “getting their hands on” a few million euros.
We reiterate that CEDIS’s operating losses resulted from the cost of purchasing electricity to cover losses being many times higher than the amount approved by RAE, due to the dizzying rise in electricity prices on the exchange, as well as from discounts granted to customers. We invite MP Pribilović, or anyone else, to verify—even by engaging economic experts—whether there are any other reasons for CEDIS operating at a loss besides those we have stated. If this is established, the Executive Director will resign.
