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Model Houses in the Entry of Zugdidi

January 21, 2008
According to the direction of the President of Georgia dated by November 7, 2007 the Georgian Ministry of Finance has apportioned 560 000 lari from the President’s Reserve Fund to repair and paint facades of the houses in one part of Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue, situated at the entrance to Zugdidi. About 155 houses have been repaired on Agmashenebeli Av. since December 10, 2007 up to now. The inhabitants of Zugdidi are curious: Why have they chosen exactly these houses to repair? Local people think that these houses are repaired to impress visitors who will have impression that Zugdidi residents live in prosperity.

The houses in entrance to the town are rather old. They are two-storied building made of stone and brick. Some of them have long history but managed to maintain their initial form. The house of Iordane Kiria was built in 1880. Grandfather Iordane was the merchant of a well-known Union of Merchants that had commercial relationships with Turkey and Iran. In 1924 the Communists took away the house from the Kirias and used it as headquarter. They demolished the façade of the house, reconstructed it into a balcony and used it as a tribune.

Nowadays only Meri Kiria, a 77-year-old lady lives in the house. Compared to other houses in Agmashenebeli Ave. their house looks very humble. Old woman sitting on the balcony expects her house to be repaired.

Representatives of the construction company “Mshenservisi Ltd: visited Meri Kiria as well as her neighbors in Agmashenebeli Ave. and explained that her house was to be repaired within Presidential Program on Reconstruction. They made notes what should be done in the house and promised the lady to start repair-works in the nearest future. Several days later the Kirias were visited by another group of workers from the construction company; the second group was followed by a third one. The workers brought boards to the house….

Meri Kiria: “When they brought wooden boards I told them that it was not enough to repair my house. First of all the house needed reinforcement, columns must be fixed and the floor should be completely changed…I demanded them to explain what they were going to do in my house and they told me only 2 500 lari was apportioned on the reconstruction of my house. I love my neighbors very much; but if 4 500 lari was apportioned for their houses which are less damaged than mine; why should I not receive the same amount of aid?!”

Representatives of the Mshenservisi Ltd, which is registered in Tbilisi, visited the Kirias for the forth time too. Mrs. Meri Kiria said that six men visited them. She explained to builders that it was useless to fix boards and to paint façade of the house. The building would collapse if it is not reinforced with special columns.”

Meri Kiria: “When one of the visitors was speaking on the phone, he stepped on the rotten board in one part of the balcony which broke and he fell on the ground floor. I had warned him to be careful while walking on the balcony, it was dangerous…you cannot imagine how worried I was…that man was badly injured and taken to the hospital. One of them started scolding me for the incident…”

The old woman is worried because the builders slandered her. When they visited the Kirias for the sixth time builders stated Construction Company could not satisfy the demand of the old woman to repair her house with oak wood. Meri Kiria said: “They claimed I had demanded chestnut wood to repair my house. On our next meeting Elguja Todua, the head of the construction, said I was not right to demand oak wood to repair my house. I replied to him I had demanded neither wood. I spent all my life in prayers but cursed the slanderer for the first time in my life. I wished that person to start looking for a chestnut and oak coffin for his most beloved person. They made me sin by saying such a bad words. It is a shame to treat an old person like that…”

Since the builders could not persuade the old woman, they started negotiations with her son who lives in Tbilisi with his wife. The old woman got annoyed by that fact too. “They might have considered me a mad or a disabled person with sclerosis…I am clever enough and can make decisions. My son also knows me. I am the head of the family and I make decisions here. I am grateful to the president for the present, but I cannot spend all my rest life in a rotten house with painted façade!”

Since the president’s order must be executed, representatives of the Zugdidi Municipality Board really intend to meet son of Meri Kiria. Iordane Kiria should start negotiations with his mother now. Emzar Erangia, the head of the Department for Public Services and Amenities: “Meri Kiria’s house, like other buildings, will be reconstructed by all means. The house is old thus it will take longer time to reconstruct. The construction materials, the old woman demands, cannot be bought in Georgia; so-called “listvinitsa” grows in Russia and has not been imported in our country for a long time already…We will meet her again and I hope we will reach agreement.”

It is still obscure who had initiated the reconstruction of the residential buildings. However, the public officials make weak comments on the situation; their versions are various too. Vakhtang Tskhadaia, the chairperson of the Zugdidi Municipality Board, states that there is no concrete initiator of the reconstruction activities. People have requested it from the local government. “Population often applies to us regarding the problems. They complain about bad road, lampposts and street-lights…our activities aim to make the city more beautiful…However, in this particular case I do not remember whom the population applied to; to Municipality Board or the Regional Administration.” The local people claim that Mikheil Saakashvili is the initiator of the reconstruction who wants to show visitors that social situation of Zugdidi residents has improved; to show them that live well-off here…

Roman Gabisonia, chairperson of the Conservative Party’s Regional Office: “Saakashvili spent over 1, 5 million lari on the painting of houses. However, it would have been better if they spent that money on more important programs. The sum apportioned from the state budget was enough for only 8 acres of land-from the central square to the Dadiani Palace. Local people have witnessed how many times they have repaired the road in this area; how many fountains were made. Hence, Saakashvili will show off with residential buildings in Zugididi in addition to other sightseeing.

Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi

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