Remarks

Playground inauguration Vrbovac, Klokot

October 29th 2009

Dear children, respected teachers, representatives of the Klokot Municipality, members of the Municipal Preparation Team, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to thank you for inviting me to this event to celebrate the opening of this newly refurbished school playground.  I just came from Mogila, where I visited a similar playground and had the pleasure of speaking with the school director and some of your neighbors.

It was wonderful to see such dedicated members of the community getting involved in local projects.  Improving the quality of life for our children is a rewarding task, and a noble goal for any community leader or politician.

Let me express at the very beginning my appreciation for your initiative and dedication to secure a better future for your children.

The well-being of our children depends on all of us – teachers, your municipal representatives, the donor community, and most importantly, parents and family members.  By working together we can ensure a better future for our children.

And here in front of you are the people that can help your Municipal Government to be more responsive to the needs of its citizens.  Vrbovac is now part of the new Municipality of Klokot.  This brings municipal representatives closer to you and your children.

You will have a greater voice in influencing the priorities and work of your new municipality.  You will be able to drive the positive changes in your community by electing the municipal leaders who will implement them.

These projects are only the beginning for the Municipality of Klokot-Vrbovac.  Your Municipal Preparation Team has already identified and begun to implement projects that will bring further improvements to your community.

Earlier this morning I had the pleasure of inaugurating the new water pump in Mogila; a water system will provide drinking water to the sixteen hundred people living in that community.

A few days from now five schools in this Municipality, including your local school here in Verbovac, will have new IT equipment installed which will give your children the chance to develop important skills for the future.

The United States Government has also been working with your community leaders to improve municipal services in order to improve the standard of living for all members of the community.  The installation of an electrical transformer in Grncar Village and the delivery of waste containers will take place within the next two weeks.  Garbage collection will begin shortly after that – these are essential services best managed at a local level.

There is great progress being made throughout the Municipality, and the standard of living will continue to improve as your municipal leaders continue to identify and implement these projects and services for you.

Before I finish I would like to once again commend the Municipal Preparation Team for Klokot-Vrbovac Municipality for undertaking this effort.  Your hard work has brought us this far and built the foundation for a strong municipality.

The future depends on your efforts.  I encourage you all to exercise your democratic right and go to the ballot box on November 15th to cast your vote.  Help shape the future of your Municipality for you and your children. 

Thank you.