The newly appointed Principal Deputy High Representative and Brčko District Supervisor, Louis Crishock, conducted his first official visit to Brčko, meeting with government representatives, law enforcement and judiciary representatives, as well as civil society.
During a meeting with the Brčko Government and Assembly leadership, the Supervisor was briefed on ongoing reforms and initiatives towards good governance, budget transparency, and infrastructure development. He urged relevant bodies to use the remaining time before the election campaign to achieve success regarding energy efficiency retrofitting of public buildings, work on securing at least the basic infrastructure in the Business Zone in Brod the Government is obligated to provide under the Memorandum of Understanding, and ongoing legislative initiatives concerning environment protection, concessions, and spatial planning. Steps should also be made towards more transparent and efficient spending for travel expenses in the public sector.
The Supervisor held separate meetings with the Brčko Chief of Police, the District Chief Prosecutor, and representatives of the Brčko District Anti-Corruption Office. Crishock assured his collocutors that his office will continue to support all efforts towards combating public sector corruption and maintaining a safe and stable environment in Brčko. During a meeting with representatives of the Local Election Commission, special focus was given to preparations for the upcoming elections, including the implementation of the latest improvements for preventing potential election fraud through biometric identification and authentication of voters.
Anti-corruption and human rights efforts remained a central theme in the Supervisor’s separate discussions with representatives from NGOs “Vermont” and “DEMOS.” The Supervisor also inquired about their respective projects, as well as the needs and challenges faced by the NGO sector in the District.
In these meetings, Supervisor Crishock underscored the importance of continued reform and accountability: “Our mission remains the same – to ensure the District is fully functional and capable of delivering prosperity to all its citizens in line with the Final Award. This involves a commitment to reforms, accountability of public officials, and transparency in public spending. I will work very closely with all local stakeholders and partners to make sure reforms and projects remain on track, and the citizens’ money is put to good use for the benefit of the entire community.”
