If the claims of insiders are true, a scandal involving the spending of public money in Banja Luka worth almost two million marks is looming. Mayor Draško Stanivuković has announced the construction of an eight-meter-high monument to Prince Lazar, whose estimated value is 1.7 million marks. However, questions have been raised about the legality of the procedure, including whether construction began before the tender for the selection of the contractor was announced.
Disputed start of work
Stanivuković announced and ordered the construction of a monument to Prince Lazar worth almost two million marks before the tender was announced. The casting of the monument began before the contractor was officially selected. The tender documentation lists the specifications of the monument.
“Casting of a model in bronze in a 1:1 ratio. The dimensions of the cast and mounted model must meet a minimum of 800×372 (height times width), not including the pedestal,” the documentation states.
The Banja Luka city administration did not respond to questions regarding the announcement of the construction of another monument. They did not answer what funds are planned for the construction and the need for so many monuments in the city.
Criticism from the Assembly
People’s Front councilor Dijana Ješić notes that Stanivuković is announcing monuments in an election year while many of the city’s communal problems have not been resolved for years.
“We are talking about the 21st century, where people do not have water, roads and sewage, and we are building monuments. This is reminiscent of the period 20 or more years ago, when cosmetic changes were made, while essential ones were missing. As far as I know, the funds were planned from regular sources, because the loan debt was not presented. On the other hand, we are borrowing to build children’s playgrounds, which is absurd,” said Ješić.
Priorities under question
The construction of the monument has not yet been discussed in the Banja Luka City Assembly, nor have the councilors had the opportunity to express their opinion on this project.
A member of the Justice and Order List in the Banja Luka City Assembly, Igor Mandić, pointed out that the problem lies in setting priorities.
“What irritates me is that priorities are being defined in the wrong way. No one is against beautifying the city, but we have to clearly set out what the priorities are, and these are primarily public infrastructure and utility projects,” said Mandić.
Investigations and previous cases
The start and completion of works before announcing a public tender or obtaining a building permit have become a hallmark of both terms of office of Mayor Stanivuković in Banja Luka. Due to some projects in which the legal procedure was not followed, Transparency International has filed criminal charges against Stanivuković. They are being processed by the Banja Luka District Prosecutor’s Office.
