Government wants to set up new public enterprise

The Balearic government is planning to create a major new public enterprise to manage and develop all the new amenities in the Balearics. Pablo Rivero, who co-ordinates all the strategic plans of the government is currently drawing up a report analysing the pros and cons of such a venture, which the government hopes will speed up the red tape surrounding such projects. The report will be given to chief minister Francesc Antich, who will decide whether or not to present a decree forming the new enterprise, which would have a staff of 15 and would manage everything from road construction to new school buildings. Rivera said that they had to study whether or not the Balearics has sufficient volume of public works to warrant such a public enterprise. He added that Catalonia, Andalucia and Valencia have already launched such enterprises. Rivera said it would lead to greater agility in managing the works, would reduce costs and increase the quality of the infrastructures. However, the new enterprise would not decide what projects were to be carried out or the characteristics of the new work. However, it would have greater control when the companies which win the contracts want to introduce modifications and increase the budget. Rivera explained that the decision to start work would be taken by the ministry involved, but the public enterprise would have the mission to develop it with the utmost agility. One of the biggest obstacles to the plan is that responsibility for roads is due to be handed over shortly to the Insular Councils.