Basra: A Billionaire Begging in the Gutter!

Can you believe that one of the richest cities in the world is drowning in trash, polluted water, and deprived of electricity?
The above grim scenario is the reality of Basra city located 393 miles south of Baghdad.  Iraqis recognize the city as the economic capital of Iraq. Basra has the majority of the oil fields in Iraq.  Around 70% of these oil fields lie in Basra. The city is also a port; goods and services are imported and exported from Basra.  In fact, Basra is the only port that Iraq uses to access the high seas. The city should be thriving, not suffering.
Basra is like a billionaire who sits on a vast majority of wealth, however, that billionaire doesn't know how to manage the wealth and ends up begging in the gutter.

  Suggestions

1.  It is not about how much you have, it is about how you manage it.
2.  If you don't manage your resources, then your resources are wasted.

The Routine

Palm trees are a distinguishing feature of Basra.

Every couple of months,  Iraqis in Basra take to the streets to express their anger due to lack of basic services. In response, the Iraqi government promises action. Then, people wait a couple of months for the action to come through, unfortunately to no avail. In a reaction to the lack of action, more people take over the streets of Basra due to lack of basic services; reliable electricity supplies, safe drinking water, and trash pick-up.

These demonstrations are getting more frequent and more violent.

Tips and Insights

1. A leader should always take action because not an action is forfeiting leadership.

2. Involving stakeholders in search of a solution leads to inclusive governance.

3. Creating venues for stakeholders to express themselves is an effective alternative to chaos or violence.

Extreme Weather Conditions

The hot desert climate dominates Basra.  During the long summer that stretches over eight months, the temperature reaches up to 129 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity up to 14%. The winter is relatively mild. However, some winter nights experience a temperature of 30 Fahrenheit degrees cold or even lower.

Tips and Insights 

1. People will not adjust to extreme conditions.
2. Effective leadership takes measures to alleviate hardship, not ignore it.

Dire Needs

Lacking basic services in such weather is hazardous. Basra receives 1-5 hours of electricity per day, which means people of Basra lack electricity supplies for more than 16 hours per day. What do they do for the rest of the day? How can they sleep, eat, or work? People buy electricity from a local supplier. For example, a fan, a light, and a TV can cost up to US$150 or more per month. US$150 does not sound like much here in the US. However, it is the monthly salary for an entry-level position in Iraq. Moreover, the ceiling fan, which most Iraqis own, does not help much in this weather, since it only circulates the blistering heat.

Safe drinking water is an issue in Basra, even though the city overlooks Shatt Al-Arab, a river that is the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris in the town of al-Qurnah in Basra.  However, the city barely receives any water, let alone safe drinking water. In September of 2018, the number of Iraqis poisoned by polluted drinking water in Basra reached 100,000 in a couple of days. The water is simply undrinkable.

Trash pick-up doesn't exist as a service. People are throwing trash everywhere, including public squares, parks, and streets. Then, when all hope is lost, people just burn the trash. Just click on this YouTube link and see for yourself.

Policy Issues

The federal government is responsible for providing basic services. Thus, long supply lines are easily interrupted with technical issues, wear and tear, illegal use, sabotage, damage due to three decades of war. All decision making is completed at its headquarters in Baghdad. However, the implementation is hundreds of miles away.

It took the Iraqi government several years to realize that it couldn't provide services as the national provider. However, handing over services to the private sector was not the most effective course of action either. The private sector is interested in one thing: profit. Therefore, electricity became so expensive; a luxurious commodity only rich people can afford. With an unemployment rate of 25%, one can conclude that there aren't many rich people living in Basra.  So, back to square one; no services. 

Suggestions

1. Moving from one extreme to another is a sign of trouble.
2. Data, observations, and analysis should be the basis of policymaking, not assumptions or opinions.

The Wrong Policy Approach

Moving from one extreme to another is always a red flag for decision-making.  In Iraq, basic services used to be subsidized and nationalized, handing them over to the private sector doesn't mean immediate and continuous good quality supply.

Recommendations

Localization of services is an option that's worth examining. The local administration within each district will be responsible for providing services because the local departments know what the needs are and can address them. The federal agency can offer guidance, training, and funding to local administrations. The federal government should play the role of the enabler. Governmental agencies provide guidance to enable the solution.

Three Basic Steps

1. In Iraq, each neighborhood, known as Mahala, has a Mayor or Muktar, who overlooks administrative issues.  Thus, the Mayor's office will be responsible for providing and maintaining services in the neighborhood. 

2. Local authorities will only contract local businesses to complete any repairs needed to maintain the services. If the expertise needed doesn't exist locally, the outside contract should train five local contractors. 

3.  Local departments will use any revenues generated from providing the services to maintain the services and create jobs within the neighborhood.   

Suggestions

1.  Utilizing an innovative approach to policymaking is key to effective policies.

2. Taking small steps towards the goals creates progress.

Checks and Balances

According to the Law of Appointing Mayors number 13  of 2011,  the Mayor should serve for four years. However, the neighborhood can evaluate the Mayor's performance yearly. If 60% or more of the people in the neighborhood are not satisfied, the Mayor will step down.  While the law does not offer a performance review for the Mayor,  the law doesn't explicitly prohibit it.

Clean Energy

 The federal government can mass produce equipment for solar energy. Several Iraqi scientists and entrepreneurs created solar-energy saving panels. The federal government can buy blueprints and create an assembly line to produce solar energy systems available at a discounted price.  

It is time for Basra to manage its wealth to help its own people. The billionaire city should live a life that reflects its wealth and glory and stops begging in the gutter.