Minister of Public Works Visits Abu Al-Mona: Citizens Need More Shared Transport

Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Mona, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, received Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny at the Community House in Verdun. They discussed general conditions from various angles, the ministry's work, and future plans. Present were Judge Faisal Nasser al-Din, President of the Superior Druze Court of Appeal; religious judges Sheikh Salim Al-Issami, Sheikh Fouad Hamdan, and Sheikh Gandhi Makarem; Sheikh Fadi Al-Aattar, head of the Communication and Public Relations Committee in the Religious Council; Mazen Fayyad and Rayan Hassan, directors of the Council and the Spiritual Leadership; and advisor Dr. Ramzi Sari al-Din.

After the meeting, Rasamny stated: "I was honored to visit His Eminence Sheikh Abi Al-Mona today, as we visit him whenever opportunity permits. We informed him about the country's situation and matters related to the ministry. The main issue was the power outage at the airport, which we explained is linked to Electricité du Liban cutting power to the airport. We have addressed this. It is true that there are many arrears owed to Electricité du Liban, which have been partially resolved through the government and the Ministry of Finance."

He added: "We also discussed other issues related to road needs and regional requirements. Regarding shared transport, which has become a fundamental national need, citizens now require more accessible shared transport to all Lebanese regions to strengthen connections between cities and villages. We were in Rashaya and moved to Akkar, where we launched five buses. There are several matters needing attention, and we rely on God to complete the remaining tasks requiring swift execution."

Sheikh Abi Al-Mona also received a delegation from the Board of Directors of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), led by Dr. Bachara Al-Assmar, including members Bassem Ghanem, Dr. Bassam Alliq, Iyad Al-Sabai, and Georges Alam, to inform him about the fund's operational launch following recent appointments and future development plans.

Following the meeting, Al-Assmar stated: "As the new board of directors of the National Social Security Fund, we were honored to meet His Eminence Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Mona at this major national reference house. We briefed him on the fund's status and developments with the formation of the new board. We sought his blessings and requested support. His Eminence expressed full readiness to assist, calling for national unity in all work, citizenship, and continued support for popular sectors and workers who need the fund. He also showed willingness for any development in the fund's operations. We briefed him on laws being implemented, most notably retirement, and the board's vision for development, digitization, employing young talents, and expanding the range of fund subscribers. We received full support from His Eminence."

He added: "We informed His Eminence of the necessity for new societal segments to join the fund and to develop existing medical care, hospitalization, and facilitation services regarding clearance certificates and citizen transactions, along with everything requiring improvement. We need concerted efforts, first and foremost with religious and political references, because the fund is named the National Social Security Fund. Therefore, we need support from all Lebanese societal groups, political factions, and religious authorities."

Abi Al-Mona also received Samer Khawand, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of the Public Establishment for Consumer Markets, to brief him on issues related to the establishment and future visions for its development.

Among visitors to Sheikh Abi Al-Mona was a delegation from the Board of the Syndicate of Sworn Translators in Lebanon, led by Dean Hassan Saleem, to inform him about the syndicate's recent elections and the new board's aspirations.

He also received Prosecutor of Mount Lebanon Judge Bilal Halawi, Dr. Salim Hammadeh, Engineer Najib Al-Qantar, Lawyer Mazen Al-Masri, Major Samir Abu Ghnam with a civilian delegation, and former Commissioner for Social Affairs in the Progressive Socialist Party Khaled Al-Mohtar and his two sons, to thank them for condolences regarding the passing of his wife.

Sheikh Abi Al-Mona, leading a delegation that included the Minister of Public Works, Druze religious judges, members of the Religious Council and Spiritual Leadership, and advisors, offered condolences at the Community House for educator Hayat Salman Al-Sabri Halawi, wife of Nazih Shahine Halawi, attended by MPs, personalities, and family members. He also offered condolences at the Druze Taba Hall near the Community House for Sheikh Abu Wael Halim Ghanem.

Earlier, he received Father Bassam Saad, priest of the Maronite Church of Hammana, and the Women's Association of Shbaniya at his home in the town of Chanih.