The handling of earthquake damage in Groningen needs its own minister in the new cabinet. National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen comes to this conclusion in the report Torn Trust, writes Trouw.
In the newspaper, Van Zutphen talks about a national crisis that needs “a crisis organization with perseverance”. “Someone who says: now it’s over and we cut the knots. No more new investigations, no new procedures or new rules.”
The ombudsman concludes that too little has been done with his previous recommendations from 2017. Thousands of people are still waiting for their homes to be strengthened or a compensation scheme. According to him, this is not unwillingness, but incompetence of the government.
“If it were unwillingness, I knew what to do: you just want it. Powerlessness is much more complicated for the government itself. It has to work differently. In the jargon these days: new administrative culture.”
Streamline
At present, the repair of damage still falls under Economic Affairs, while the Interior is responsible for the reinforcement operation. Municipalities, provinces, the National Coordinator Groningen and several government agencies also play a role. A minister can streamline that, he thinks.
“They should not care about the question of who is responsible, ministry x or y for housing or for the gas tap, for one crack this counter and for the reinforcements another. You don’t care if you live in a damaged house he tells the newspaper. “They can and should no longer act as a traditional, better-knowing government, because Groningen will not benefit from that.”
Van Zutphen hopes that in this way not only the damage but also the trust can be restored, as well as psychological damage. “Repairing tears is important, but repairing the mental blows requires almost more attention than the tear.”
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